Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20200416

Podium for todays briefing. Welcome to the Daily Press Conference from downing street, and i am joined by chris whitty, the government chief medical officer, and also sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser. Sir patrick will provide an update on the latest coronavirus data, but first it may update you on the steps we are taking to defeat coronavirus and the decisions we have taken today. Step by step, our action plan aims to slow the spread of coronavirus so that fewer people need special treatment at any one time, and thats the way we can protect the nhs from becoming overwhelmed. Every step along this way, we have followed carefully and deliberately the scientific and medical advice we have received so that we take the right steps at the right moment in time. At the same time, we are dramatically expanding nhs capacity in terms of the number of beds, key staff, life saving equipment on the front line, so people get the care they need at the point in time they need it most. That is also why we directed people to stay at home, to deny coronavirus the opportunity to spread, to protect the nhs and save lives. Todays data shows that 320,000 327,680 people in the uk have tested for coronavirus, and offers with the virus 13,729 have tested for coronavirus, and offers with the virus13,729 have fiow offers with the virus13,729 have now died and these are heartbreaking losses for every family affected, and it reminds us why we need to follow the guidance on social distancing. Earlier, ichaired meetings of the cabinet and cobra to consider advice from sage on the impact of the existing social distancing measures. There are indications the measures have been put in place have been successful in slowing down the spread of this virus. But sage also say it is a mixed and inconsistent picture and, in some settings, infections are still likely to be increasing. Sage assess the rate of infection is almost certainly below one in the community, and that means, on average, each person infected in turn infects less than one other person. Overall, we still dont have the infection rate down as far as we need it. In some cases, the clear advice we have received is that any change to social distancing measures fiow change to social distancing measures now would risk a significant increase in the spread of the virus. That would threaten a second pick of the virus and substantially increase the virus and substantially increase the numberof the virus and substantially increase the number of deaths. It would undo the number of deaths. It would undo the progress we have made to date and asa the progress we have made to date and as a result would require an even longer period of the more restrictive social distancing measures. Early relaxation would do more damage to the economy over the longer period, and i want to be clear about this. The advice from chemical sage is that relaxing any of the measures currently in place would risk damage to which we very carefully considered, the government has discovered that the government has discovered that the current measures must remain in place for their at least the next three weeks. In terms of the decisions that lie ahead we want to be as upfront with the british people as we possibly can. So let me set out five specific things that the government will need to be satisfied out of before we will consider it safe to adjust any of the current measures. First, we must protect the nhs is ability to cope, we must be confident that we are able to provide sufficient critical ca re able to provide sufficient Critical Care and specialist treatment right across the uk. The nh staff have been credible, we must continue to support them as much as we can. Second, we need to see a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates from coronavirus. Until we are confident we move beyond the peak. Third, we need to have reliable data showing that the rate ofan reliable data showing that the rate of an infection is decreasing to manageable levels across the board. Fourth, we need to be confident that the range of operational challenges including testing capacity, and ppe are in hand with supply able to meet future demand. Fifth, and this is really crucial, we must be confident that any adjustments to our current measures will not risk a second peak of infection that overwhelm the nhs. The worst thing that we can do right fiow the worst thing that we can do right now is to ease up too soon. Allow a second peak of the virus to hit the nhs and the british people. It will be the worst outcome not just of Public Health but of the economy and for our country as a whole. So the current restrictions will remain in place the government will continue to monitor the data on the impact of the virus was up will soon be able to test 100,000 people every day. That will give us a greater understanding of the scope of infection across the country. It will also help us plan how to change the measures when were ready do so. When we are confident on these five points guided by the science, guided by the data, we will look to adjust the measures to make them as effective as possible in protecting Public Health whilst allowing some economic and social activity to resume. But we will only do it when the evidence demonstrates that it is safe to do it. It could involve relaxing measures in some areas while strengthening measures in other areas. But in formulating the right balance we will be at all times guided by the scientific advice at the evidence. I should add at this point that we recognise all the economic and social are having. Thats why we put in place in unprecedented package of support for jobs, for businesses but also for hospices and charities who are doing so hospices and charities who are doing so much to support the most vulnerable in our society. And i know that many people would like to hear more detail, some people are calling for exact dates on what will happen next and when. So where being as open as we responsibly can at this stage. And it would not be responsible to prejudge the evidence that sage will have ant review in just a few weeks time. I know some people will look at other countries and say why is the uk not doing what theyre doing. And i can reassure people that we carefully follow what is happening in other countries. Weve always like to learn any lessons and how they were approaching their response and im talking to Foreign Ministers on a daily basis. I know chris and patrick are doing the same. But there opposite numbers around the world. Ultimately though, weve got to do what is right for the british people based on the advice of our experts, government not grounded in the uk. We will make those decisions at the right time for this country. Thats what weve done so far and thats what will continue to do full top i appreciate that the impact of these measures is considerable. People on businesses across the country. Whether its their cost be a shouldered, the sacrifices before making, the isolated from friends and family, whole households cooped up and family, whole households cooped up inside all week long. Parents having Difficult Conversations with Young Children who just dont understand why they cant go and see theirgrandparents or go understand why they cant go and see their grandparents or go outside and meet up with friends as they would normally do. Families struggling to manage home schooling and at the same time balancing that with working from home. There are people very concerned about their household finances, uncertain about their jobs. Or if they are Small Business remains close. We get it. We know its rough going at this time. And every time i come to this lectern andl every time i come to this lectern and i read out the grim toll of people who are so sadly passed away, i walk away from here and i think about what their sons and their daughters must be going through right now. Their brothers, their sisters, their grandchildren all the loved ones left behind without an unbearable life changing long term grief. It makes me, it makes this government focus even harder on what we must do. And i know that together, united we must keep up this National Effort for a while longer. Weve just come too far, weve lost too many loved ones weve already sacrificed sought to delete not far too much to ease up now. Especially, especially when were beginning to see the evidence that oui beginning to see the evidence that our efforts are starting to pay off. And your efforts are paying off. There is light at the end of the tunnel. But we are now at both a delicate and dangerous stage in this pandemic. If we rush to relax the measures that we have in place, we would risk wasting all the sacrifices and all the progress that has been made. And that would risk a quick return to another lockdown with all the threat to life and a second peak the virus would bring and all the economic damage a second lockdown would carry. So we need to be patient it longer. Please, please stay home, save lives and protect the nhs so we can safely return to life as close to normal as possible as soon as possible. Its been an Incredible National team effort. Now is not the moment to give the coronavirus a second chance. Lets stick together, lets see this through and lets defeat the coronavirus for good. Now patrick, i dont know whether youre going to give usa dont know whether youre going to give us a more detail on both the state of the coronavirus but also sages advice today. Can i have the first side please . This is one youve seen before. Its transport use showing the reduction thats maintained down. It is these sorts of changes, the fact that weve managed all of us to keep our social distancing going that its meant that the transmission of the virus in the community has reduced. And sage it looked very carefully at all of the evidence and is of the opinion that it is highly likely that the are is below one. The transmission force of the virus is below one meaning as a secretary and said that i on average will be infecting fewer than one other person. Thats an important change. It means that in the community its likely that the virus and the epidemic is now shrinking. There are areas such as hospitals and social ca re areas such as hospitals and social care settings where there may be growth in some places. But overall, the are is below one but we cant say by how much. , please. This shows the new cases of course as i said before this isjust shows the new cases of course as i said before this is just the cases that are tested in hospital so its not the totality. The blue bars arent the people who tested in hospital and there is a flattening and possibly signs of decrease. The orange bars show that the testing is now being expanded to critical workers in the nhs, social care and other sectors. And of course, cases are being picked up amongst that population too. But the overall message is that cases are the least flattening and may be decreasing. , please. This is probably the critical slide. This shows people in hospital beds with covert infection. And here you can see across many region the numbers are decreasing. In some theyre flat so there is some regional variation. But again, this is consistent with the idea that the are is below one, somewhere between. 5 and one. The closer it is to one the more likely it is that even small changes in the measures that are in place could lead to the are going above one. If the r goes above one its such a grogan it may be difficult to detect that growth and then we run the risk of a second delete mac second peak with all the damage that what that will cost you health and to the economy. So at the moment this is looking in a good place, its moment this is looking in a good place, its beginning to come down. Its beginning to stabilise in some places. And its important that all the measures that were taking stay in place in order to allow us to maintain this level of control and to see the epidemic begin to decrease. Final slide please. To see the epidemic begin to decrease. Finalslide please. Sadly, of course there are people who have died from this awful virus. I expect the deaths to reach a plateau and to stay up a bit for a little while and then to decrease thereafter. And what you can see on this slide is both a death in hospital and in the all settings for the National Statistics status so the picture can be seen. So sages view is that r is below one. That the changes that weve all made to our lives has made a difference. And will continue to make a difference and its important that we continue with those in order to drive the numbers down and to get ourselves into a position where we can see that this is really now decreasing as an epidemic. Patrick, thank you very much. Will take some questions from the media. His laura from the bbc. Thank you foreign secretary. Youve been very clear about why your view and sages view is now is not the time. Can you give the public any hope of when the restrictions might start to lift as you said yourself and other countries people have been told when and what to expect. From what you know now is it more likely that were looking at another three weeks or maybe another three months . The programme is said that the outset could take three months to come through the peak and prime minister. That still is the outline. But what we sent out today is approach guided by the evidence is that it will be reviewed by sage at the end of the month. Weve sent out five points of principle that will guide us. We cant give a definitive timeframe that would be to prejudge the evidence that wouldnt be the response will think to do. But our message of the British Public is there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are making progress but at the same time we must keep up the social distancing measures. Thereve been all sorts of challenges with this coronavirus crisis. But one of the things that weve seen is the country pull together follow pretty consistency the guidance. That is one of the reasons why we made the progress that weve had notwithstanding the significant to get huge losses that ive described. Do you want to come back . As you say, people have overwhelmingly listen to the governments guidance and followed it. Why do you think then you cant share it with the public anything about what might be next . We can. Ive come and done these press conferences multiple times. We do them on a daily basis. The problem is not being willing to talk to the public about the details, if we prejudiced the data and the evidence that they are getting both on the spread of the virus and the extent we get it out well below the level r one. Would be prejudging the decision we need to make. And likewise the evidence sage is getting is constantly informing. The options that weve got. What i try to do is be as upfront as possible and set out the principles, the five principles that can give a bit of help to the country and also to say come on with got to keep this up. What youre doing is working. I think we can see signs of that notwithstanding the death toll which isa notwithstanding the death toll which is a huge tragedy for so many people. But we must stay the course. And if we let up now it would be as if this patrick has explained, damaging for Public Health but also damaging for Public Health but also damaging for Public Health but also damaging for the economy. Its not a trade off here. If we get a second peak its not just trade off here. If we get a second peak its notjust damaging for People Health and public safety, will also end up back in a second lockdown which prolongs the economic risk. With taking the right decision at the right time as weve always had and the truth is if i start giving you artificial and arbitrary time frames, it will be the irresponsible thing to do. And i cant do that. Tom. Thank you, in yesterdays press briefing professor woody when asked about how we should manage this next phase, the outbreak that data that sage talked about. He sent one bit of information would be really useful is serology data. This is the survey of blood supplies from the country to get a sense of how much of the population has been infected with the virus. And therefore how many may be immune to it. Labs have tested more than 3000 from that. Surveyed by the results have yet to be published. Is that because as i understand it from scientist familiar with the work, that these tests are not delivering reliable results . Either because it tests themselves or because of whats going on in the immune systems of people who have been affected and where does that leave us affected and where does that leave us in terms of figuring out how big the potential second peak or how long we have to stay in a lockdown situation is . Are we currently flying blind . Thank you tom i let chris address out. So the data is going to be absolutely critical for a whole lot of reasons. The most important of which is to work out what proportion of people look as if they have been infected. We have a kind of screwed estimate but thats a way of measuring it directly. It will in the long run also be important in understanding our options for getting a vaccine. They may also be useful to provide evidence someone actually had an infection and they remained immune. If the tests are reliable. Thats why its important. Youre absolutely right there is a lot of work notjust going on in to be clear, there are now substantial bodies of work in the academic sector, in Public Health england and in many commercial areas. Because everybody wants to have an accurate serology. There are several different ways of approaching this. Different people are going down different groups. Broadly there are three things that have slowed us down to date. The first of which is we dont yet have a serological test which we can put a lot of reliance on. Although it can give us a range and shot. We do expect to have really quite crude early data. But that definitely needs to be improved on. The second thing is that we dont yet have a good sampling, sampling frame. And what were trying to do is get that set up across the country so that we have a wide view at whats happened in this infection in various areas. The third thing which isjust a in various areas. The third thing which is just a fact of biology is that it takes probably at least 21 days for the test to be reliable. So youre always looking back in time on this. And early data will therefore, looking back in time 21 days, the epidemic was much earlier stage before weve reached the evidence of the beginning of the beach which sir patrick talked about. It is a very different stage and youll, the data will become more useful over time. We are moving very fa st more useful over time. We are moving very fast in this area scientifically. But we are definitely not there in either of getting the serology or getting the sampling frame. But we probably have a crude ranging shot fairly soon. Thats the consensus of the scientists. Anything you want to come back on . An interesting addition to the data. Weve got this all cases addition to the number of cases. So thats outside of the hospital setting. How, cases. So thats outside of the hospitalsetting. How, it cases. So thats outside of the hospital setting. How, it looks cases. So thats outside of the hospitalsetting. How, it looks like thats going to be very important, is it going to change sages predictions of how the manifests itself and what is happening with specifically how we see in faster transition in the care Home Settings at the moment . And that something youre gonna have to factor in to any next phase response. |j youre gonna have to factor in to any next phase response. I think its very important to have the hospital death rate and the total death rate. Its worth remembering again that the ons rates are people whove got coated on the death certificate. It doesnt necessarily mean it was infected because they werent necessarily tested. We just need to understand the difference. In terms of the sage of view, the stage view is looking at the r of that transmission of the community i dont think any of those data change that opinion as to where the r is. Asi that opinion as to where the r is. As i said, its not true that its necessary below one and every hospital or in every care home. And thats the important area that we now need to look at and make sure that the appropriate measures are in place to try and reduce there. It doesnt change the overall view that i described. That the r overall is be low one and therefore we expect to see the slowing of the turn of the epidemic. Just on top of whats st patricks day, the data tells us that not only the people who were diagnosed as having covert on their death certificate with a diagnosis some of which on the basis of the fa ct some of which on the basis of the fact that the doctor thought it was likely but not definite. But it also gives an indication of whats called excess mortality. The difference between the normal death rate sadly at this time of year and what weve got at the moment. Thats been changing overtime. Got at the moment. Thats been changing over time. And the year are some additional dust on top of the ones that you would expect for the time of year. In the last week for which we have data, 3575 people were diagnosed as having covert. Some of them from in house capital some out of hospital. But the excess mortality was in terms of the. As a whole for that week, was depending on whether you compare it to the week before or the same week last year. Somewhere between five and 6000 people. There is a gap between those. That could be just random variation. But one of the things that weve said from the beginning is that people die for many reasons in epidemics. They include the direct cause of death but they can also include people who died for example, if they stayed at home because they were worried that going into hospital was dangerous for them and actually they have a heart attack or stroke or something important like that. And the reason im making this point other than to just clarify the data is it is really critical for people to realise if theyre having a medical emergency, we really appreciate people taking pressure off the nhs for the less urgent things but if youre having a medical emergency a heart attack, stroke, really bad flare up of asthma, things like that which could be life threatening, one of the things that the British Public have done by taking the pressure off of the nhs by staying home and my remarkable colleagues in the nhs has done by building up nhs capacity as weve always maintained the ability to handle emergencies whether covert or not. I really want to encourage people that if they have other medical emergencies the nhs is open for business. And we really must encourage people who are having life threatening or life changing things to go to hospital, contact nhs111where thats necessary. Because it would be very sad to have a situation where peoples activities and the nhs had managed to preserve the ability to manage emergencies and people are not coming forward. Sky analysis has found that 70 of front line health and social care staff who died from coronavirus were from a non white background. People in that community are very worried. They know youre having a review because youve announced it. What specifically can you say to help them . Is the government on their side, what is your message about community . And dominic robjust said your message about community . And dominic rob just said that we could eventually relax in some areas and strengthen and others. But every time older people hear things like that, they get worried seeing everybody else as the priority. There is perhaps a justified fear that they might be kept indoors until theres a vaccine which might be 18 months. They are worried that they may never see their grandkids for at least another year. Whats your message to them at this anxious time . First of all on your first question on the demographic breakdown of the data i think i will defer to patrick in terms of the analysis of that. But absolutely, we are on the side of anyone this coronavirus doesnt discriminate. We would want to follow very carefully any of the analysis of the data in the way you describe. And on your second point and ill certainly let patrick and chris comment, what i said was measures could involve various different permutations. Some getting stronger and sums easing off. We havent made up her mind on any of that. But our priority has been to safeguard life. One of the thing that the British Public have been very good at doing is denying coronavirus the means to spread. Of course we know that and the data shows very clearly that those who are older or have a pre existing condition are particularly vulnerable. So far from wanting to ta ke vulnerable. So far from wanting to take measures which disproportionately prejudice them, we wa nt disproportionately prejudice them, we want to take measures which safeguard them. Thats been the guiding principle in relation to anyone whos particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus throughout this crisis. I dont know. Onto the second one, our aim crisis. I dont know. Onto the second one, ouraim is crisis. I dont know. Onto the second one, our aim is very clear which is to get the numbers down now. That means social distancing measures needs to stay in place in order to reduce the number of people with the infection in the community. That allows, i mean, thats because the arctic comes down but its the absolute number that needs to come down. So we got fewer people carrying the infection. Once were at that stage, then you can start to think about which of the measures that make most sense to release in order to not have another growth and put it r above one. And in doing so the aim there is to try and do that ina way the aim there is to try and do that in a way that allows everything to start moving more towards normal, not to segregate on certain groups and say there is a differential approach to this. It may be necessary when you look at different jobs and Different Things to think about how you do that in a way that safe. The aim certainly in terms of how where viewing it from the scientific angle is to try and understand the basic principles that reduced transmission and allow the policy makers to take those basic intervals and apply them in a number of different settings. And ethnicity is less clear. The three things that are very clear, or age and thats one of the reasons is so critical to protect older citizens, people who got comorbidities, more than one other disease, things like cardiovascular diseases and if you look at the 0 data on this over 90 of people who have sadly died of this had at least one other disease, many of them had more than one. And male sex is a very clear risk factor for reasons not absolutely clear. And being a member of an Ethnic Minority Group is less clear and we both looked, ive had discussions with scientists about this in terms of trying to tease the support today, also looking very specifically at health ca re looking very specifically at Health Care Workers with leaders of the nhs and across the medical and nursing professions. This is something we are very keen to get extremely clear, we have vast Public Health england to look at this in some detail and what we really want is if we see any signal at all we want to then note what next we can do about it to minimise risk. To be at this point in time whilst the age and co morbidity and gender is clear this is not yet clear in terms of ethnic minorities and we need to look at this one carefully and get this one right. Would you like to come back on any of that . It sometimes feels like ministers, number ten are tried to pretend there is not a debate about what happens next but you only have to pick upa happens next but you only have to pick up a paper for the get a tv broadcast to see plenty of people speculating about whats next in the easing of the lockdown. Is it really wise and sensible for ministers to absent themselves from the field in this debate given that its happening anyway . this debate given that its happening anyway . I dont think we can be accused of absent doing ourselves to these debates can we turn up to these press conferences, i set out the five principles and also explained why i know that there was what to tease out with the next question is that needs to be asked but responsible for us is that a more detailed the measures that are being considered as potential options are indeed the timeframe because we dont the data yet from sage. We will continue to be guided by the principles we started with which his father the Scientific Evidence to take the right decisions at the right moment in time, and i think i addressed that fully in my remarks. The bend cant from lpc. Thank you, they said that the spread of the virus in the community is because of the sacrifices people are making on the way down, but in care homes and hospitals its on the way up. Whether thats because of a lack of protective equipment or testing, or another reason, would you accept the measures in place in those settings have proved inadequate and what would you do to make sure that some of the most Vulnerable People in the country are not put up for the risk in places where they ought to feel safe . And if i could just ask professor whitty, you touch with the indirect deaths that arise effectively as a result of the lockdown, am interested to know whether you model that and able to put a number on what would be expected and some scientists have warned that in time the deaths would outweigh the deaths from the virus itself. Are you confident that we area itself. Are you confident that we are a long way from that point and able to say when it might come . Thank you. First of all the coronavirus does not apply or spread ina coronavirus does not apply or spread in a uniform consistent way. So you are absolutely right we made progress and i think patrick and chris have set that out but in terms of care homes we absolutely gripping this the home Health Secretary on wednesday set out a plan in the plan was to make sure all care home residents and staff in all patients discharged from hospital will be tested before going into care homes. Ca re tested before going into care homes. Care homes are being supported with different mechanisms to order ppe quickly. We had a local resilience firm drop to deal with distribution of two care homes and disbursed more weather than hospitals. Weve had one last week and another this week. Working up the service which will regularize and expedite the distribution were generally. We have got the plan to expand the workforce and care homes to 20,000 through a new Recruitment Campaign and new guidance to minimise the spread of the infection. We recognise that the virus has not spread uniformly, absolutely committed to making sure wherever that has reared, its being tackled and is targeted and a concrete way as we possibly can. Patrick did you get the second one . Me first but patrick might want to add to that. Ive said from early on your absently right that indirect deaths we need to think about an indirect other illness, death is not the only thing if someone has had to for example, a major operation postponed thats also something that we need to remember and take account of. Just to remind people before things ive laid out our direct stats from the coronavirus, indirect deaths because the nhs Emergency Services are overwhelmed, and because of what the British Public have done, and because of the fantastic words from the nhs colleagues we dont come close to that or intend to come close to that, but the two other forms or indirect deaths because the nhs is reoriented towards number 119 and less able to do other things that are not necessarily so urgent but very important. And then finally we know that anything that increases deprivation can in the long run because issues. We are absolutely looking at how these work and how they interact. Because in coming to they interact. Because in coming to the next phase of this we need to ta ke the next phase of this we need to take account of all of those rather thanjust think take account of all of those rather than just think about the direct covid deaths. If we just thought about those we could have a much less targeted approach and one that did not allow the nhs to respond properly to all of these other indirect causes, and this is something which we, which sage which patrick chairs has looked at in some detail and will continue to do so. Yes, we look at it and to reiterate the point i made thereon, at the this is not between the economy and health, its clear we need to do that we need to keep this down and stop a second wave and which would need a second locked if that occurs and make sure we get things done to and make sure we get things done to a level which this is manageable. Those two things are not in conflict at the moment but yes we do absolutely look at those long term consequences and modelling that and thinking about what the implications of that is. Would you like to come back on any of that . If i may, just on the point for secretary, it would seem the new measures introduced with the recognition not enough in place to protect people in care homes. Are you confident there now is and is measures will be enough . Ca re is and is measures will be enough . Care england which represents the independent providers in the care sector says it was heartening to know the government was listening and we are continuing to listen. This fire is coming the way it has spread has not been uniform are predictable and want to make sure that wherever it spreads as we try and get it down overall we are there to make sure we get the measures in place, testing and place equipment in place to deal with it as rapidly as possible. Dominic from metro. For secretary, it was said this morning that we need to keep significant level of social distancing until we have the vaccine which we understand may take 18 months. Are you scared about discussing an exit strategy because there will be no real exit, and secondly can ask you, do you agree with the World Health Organisation assessment from this morning to put this in the same camp as russia and belarus in regards to our success in controlling the outbreak . I dont think the data internationally and patrick talk some of it which of the International Comparisons would bear that out but i have not heard and seen the direct comments to pass judgement for the moment on that. And in relation to your question about neil, ill ask patrick to comment on it but weve been very clear that we will take the right decisions at the right moments based on the evidence and they may well involve a transition out of the current measures, and of course there could be calibrated in different ways. The reason we need to do that is based on the five principles that i set out. How do we do this in a reliable way which protects nhs as the same time as allowing us to ease up on the economy and engage more in the kind of social activities that people wanted. I completely agree that the way out of this is vaccines and therapeutics, thats critically important, theres vaccine programmes across the world, over 80 around the world, probably four of those are in the clinic now with this also therapeutic programmes both older drugs and people making new drugs, and those are going to be critically important in terms of reducing the effects of this disease and potentially reducing transmission. Vaccines in therapy is quickly important, no question about it and the uk of course it somewhere where lots of that work is going on. Now, where we are now is the social distancing measures are needed to reduce the levels right down to low levels. At that point they may be decisions about which ones to relax and which ones not to relax, its important to keep the art below one and all about reducing contacts between households and transmission and keep levels low across the community. There may be a number of measures that need to continue in order to allow that to be suppressed and controlled whilst vaccines and therapeutics come along. But thats very different from saying the measures that are in place now the ones that need to be in place long term. So yes there will be some changes i think that need to take place that already taking place around home working but going to be important to maintain that ability to break transmission. But vaccines and therapeutics are now being actively looked at across the world including the uk. Would you like a follow up on that . Including the uk. Would you like a followup on that . Thank you, just in terms of lifting the lockdown can you give us some idea of how many daily tests will have to be available before Community Testing can begin . Weve got the initial target of getting to 100,000, and then after that we want to keep wrapping it up after that. One of the crucial things that sage will do over the next couple of weeks or the month is feedback on us and the evidence of how the evidence on the impact that the measures we have taken have impact that the measures we have ta ken have had impact that the measures we have taken have had on the virus. But we need to consider in relation to that evidence and measures and how the interacts with testing and tracing. Joe murphy from the evening standard. Thank you, for secretary. Cani standard. Thank you, for secretary. Can i ask sir patrick following what you said earlier you give us the very good news that is less than one in the community and presumably well below one in the hospital settings, but you still seem to concern about other settings in the position that the Elderly Population is one that springs to mind. Are you prepared for a lot more debts to come despite morejust to come in for a lot more debts to come despite more just to come in all peoples homes. It was below one in the Community Came to baby places that its not below one. May include certain hospitals or certain care settings and thats a very important thing to tackle. Those numbers need to come down and needs to be control of the infection in those sorts of settings. Currently the proportion they contribute to the overall picture is not entirely clear there is measures being taken and chris could speak to this better than i can to get on top of these issues and important ones that we need to tackle if we are going to try this down below one right across every setting. Would you like to come back on that . I will ask Something Else to chris if i may. 0n the question of masks if you could eliminate that meth note held outside of the care setting because being challenged by experts likejeremy setting because being challenged by experts like Jeremy Howard setting because being challenged by experts likeJeremy Howard and jeremy hunt who says they may reduce the spread on London Underground and specifically to the ask when the government came to that conclusion that it consider only the medical evidence about transmission or was it also taking into account the obvious fact that there are not enough masks to go around to the public . It is certainly the case that if there was ever a competition between Health Care Workers and care workers the front line, and people using them in situations where the risk is incredibly low, i dont think it takes a scientist or doctor ina very think it takes a scientist or doctor in a very bad thing to happen and thats one of the reasons they really rated the advice in most settings masks should be for health ca re settings masks should be for Health Care Workers. However, this is a very small issue that we are re examining and which they reelected that this money for other scientific groups are looking at the evidence. My summary to date would be the evidence is weak but the evidence of a small effect is under certain circumstances working out what circumstances should we extend the advice and should we not change that advice. But the point is that it evolves. Once one of the things we have to do the whole times is re examine evidence as it comes in and asked what we looked at it in other scientific settings. Kitty from bloomberg. To patrick and chris, your slides today show that you are tracking debts from the outbreak. We were four weeks behind italy in the beginning of the outbreak you talk as to where we are not making better progress the ring the death rate is the first secretary of state is been a lot of talk this week from your colleagues in the tory party about a reckoning with china from d think it will be business as usual with china when this is all over . I thinki business as usual with china when this is all over . I think i have been clear that murphy come down that transfer to a reduction in deaths. As a flattening off of acu cases, as a potential flattening off of deaths and that will probably reach a plateau when they come down, thats very much the curve that has been followed in other countries and so pretty repeat what i said, right at the beginning probably three or four weeks behind italy. On the question in relation to china there needs to be a very, very deep dive after the event review of the lessons including of the outbreak of the virus, and i dont think we can flinch from that at all. Needs to be driven by the science. I think the one thing that the coronavirus has taught us is the value and importance of International Cooperation and have been standing infor cooperation and have been standing in for the cooperation and have been standing inforthe p. M. Cooperation and have been standing in for the pm. On the g7 meeting of been going through what the uk is proving a leading role in working very closely with all of our International Colleagues on. I have to say there are all of these questions about the outbreak but also we had very good cooperation with the chinese and returned to the uk nationals and from wuhan and other things that we need. Need to look at all sides of this and do it ina look at all sides of this and do it in a balanced way. Theres no doubt we can have business as usual after this crisis and have to ask the hard questions about how it came about and about how it can be stopped earlier. If you want to come back on that . What does that mean in practice . Does that mean tariffs or does it mean greater restrictions on Chinese Investment in the uk, how do you see that playing out . Is itjust that we looked very carefully and do with the who and other organisations as to how this outbreak happened and what we can do to prevent it happening in the future. Before we get those answers you cannot really track a way forward. Billjenkins from the lancashire telegraph. The number of covid 19 cases and deaths is one of the worst in the country as he was slides show, do you have any reasons for why this is such as deprivation or widespread long term ill health, and are you taking special measures in the region to tackle these tragically high figures . They are putting me so i will give an answer to that. I think on both sides of the equation, until quite recently the northwest was tracking several other bits of the country including the southeast and the West Midlands but below london. And actually in the data that sir patrick showed at the beginning where you can see is actually covid cases in the northwest have started to trend downwards. Having recently trended upwards. Its a short time period so i dont want to over read on that issue. The two areas where i think we need to look particularly carefully but i think once which is true across the country when you looked quite carefully on all mortality, notjust the covert litter mortality and that tends to be linked together and we do need to look at care homes, because if you look at care homes, because if you look at care homes, because if you look at care homes where there have been outbreaks quite a few of them have been in the northwest, and this is why the measures that were announced yesterday to look at the carrom issue are so important. Would you like to come back with the last one . If the number of cases in the northwest room and stubbornly high to this been a slower release from lockdown in the region than elsewhere in the country them and what steps is the government taking to tackle Mental Health problems as a result of the pandemic . to tackle Mental Health problems as a result of the pandemic . I will let chris address the Mental Health issue but theres all sorts of fluidity in the data, what we need to do is make sure we continue to monitor it very carefully and want to get it down across all regions, get the level down as consistently as we possibly can and also in terms of measures that might be taken formed by the evidence that we get back. The critical thing is to wait until sage has done the analysis and talking about doing it by the end of the month, looking at it very carefully. Dont think we can jump ahead as to what the measures might be orany of ahead as to what the measures might be or any of the variations of it at this point. There is not really a huge variation in timing across the country for most of this, theres a little bit most following the same sort of trajectory, and actually most of us right across the country have adhered to the measures of social distancing in the same way. So theres much more similarity and difference in terms of the time course in trajectory of the epidemic across the country. Its an absolutely key point to what we have been from the beginning so concerned about, there are several different aspects to it which include the risk of people increasing loneliness and include issues about delivery of Mental Health services across the whole country and indeed around the world in this new era of covert 19. At the moment we set up a large numberof at the moment we set up a large number of things to try and look at how we can improve a Mental Health services, but you are absolutely right is an area where everybody who has looked at this is concerned and has looked at this is concerned and has recently been a serious look by their academic colleagues to work out what we need to do differently asa out what we need to do differently as a result of this endemic for Mental Health and what we would do our normal circumstances. Thank you, everyone. And that brings to a close todays press conference. The foreign secretary there along with your Patrick Vallance and chris whitty. Dominic raab making clear that any early relaxation what to do more damage over the longer period of the lockdown for staying in place for another three weeks. A quick reminder of the main points from that briefing. And the latest figures show that another 861 people have died in the uk hospitals are having tested positive for each coronavirus that brings the total deaths to 13,729. If you will remain in lockdown for at least three more weeks. Wanted to be upfront with the British Public about when the government might be able to relax measures and listed five points that would influence that decision. The government must be confident that the nhs and copan must be evidence showing the sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate, that government need to see reliable data that its dropped into manageable levels and confident in the range of challenges insuring enough ppe and finally the government needs to be confident that any adjustments made will not risk a second peak, there needs to be a quick word from vicki young our westminster correspondent. No surprise that the extension of the lockdown is going to take place, another three weeks and will have to watch ourselves. Will be dont know is how far beyond that. They are making today is just we might be reaching the peak but in the same way you climb a mountain you have to back on the other side and thats why this terrible toll of deaths is still very high. Almost 900 people, theyre saying is absolutely not the time to lift these restrictions and i thought that was the most interesting part coming from sir patrick saying there is no tension between looking at the economy and Peoples Health at the moment. Its just a clear issue here that when it comes to saving lives they cannot relax any of these measures at the moment. Thats not to say the behind the scenes there is not going into doing that but not prepared to talk with that in public, they want the right time and the clarity of the right time and the clarity of the message to continue because there have been surprised by how much people have been sticking to these rules they want people to carry on doing that, so although it looks like the infection is not spreading widely in the community theyre so concerned about some hospitals where its circulating in as we heard there another setting such as care homes. For at least three weeks and maybe even beyond that there is no sign that they are going to lift these measures there will be people saying wheres the glimmer of hope here . And thats a concern as well from talking to ministers can relate want to build say to people and businesses theres light at the end of the tunnel but for now they are saying its working and we are saving lives and have to carry on with what we are doing. But no billing this as you say to explore the possibility that in three weeks time the lockdown will be relaxed. No, they are not but im being told the behind the scenes work is going into that and of course we have seen lots of speculation and probably this because we are looking at other countries such as france, italy and denmark and others were further ahead in this or three weeks also and doing things like talking about dates for schools to reopen for example, for some shops to reopen and thats kind of conversation will carry on. Whether ministers day after day for the next three weeks cannot answer that question will be interesting because people will want to know, they will want to try to plan even though its incredibly difficult to do so theres certainly cabinet ministers who do think that the government will get to a point they have to set out not necessarily they have to set out not necessarily the dates, but certainly how they might approach it. And what kind of areas they can look at relaxing first. But none of that at the moment in the Public Domain because they just want to stick to this message, they think that it would dilute it by starting to talk about relaxing things. At the memorial at the peak of this differ as they said its a very sensitive moment. Theres a sense that theres light at the end of the tunnel, a flattening of the number of new cases although the death rate remains high. When the 800 in the last 2a hour period. Remains high. When the 800 in the last 24 hour period. And of course thats something theyre concerned about. Dominic raab talking about he understands is the huge sacrifice that people are making by having to stay at home and not operating in the same way and seen businesses in some cases going to the wall, but he says that for him standing there every day and having to announce those figures in thinking about every Single Person thats died to come and people grieving over this, that thats what should strengthen peoples resolved that Everyone Needs to think about that before they think about going out and not following the rules in the way that they should. I thought the other striking part was talking about how long some of these measures might stay in place. Social distancing in some form might have to stay for quite some time. Many thanks for that. Just before we go we mentioned little or they tom, the 99 year old world war ii veteran who is been raising money for the nhs, lets have a look at his fundraising website. Just crossed £15 million. Incredible. Time for a look at the weather. Hello, its been very dry for a few weeks you might remember it when the lockdown started thats when the weather really started to settle down. We have not had any substantial rainfall since then really, but it has about to change. We are in for a few hours of rain for potentially heavy rainfall across other parts of the uk tomorrow. This is the early satellite picture, you can see the weather just to the west of satellite picture, you can see the weatherjust to the west of spain and portugal here. Weatherfronts the pressure brewing here about these weather fronts are gradually moving in our direction and responsible for the rain affecting us tomorrow. Not today, its still relatively sunny for many of us. Much fresher there on the northeast coast of england and newcastle for example only around ten or 11 degrees. Thats because theres cloud in the breeze is coming out of the north. We start to see the changes in the air for the course of the night across other parts of the uk so the thinking is we are at five, six, seven in the morning the rain should reach the Channel Islands and then through the morning spread with words. Is that band of rain, see not enormous bands of rain but more substantial than we have had for quite some time. Spreading into the west country in central and southern england, parts of the midlands in southern wales by the middle part of the afternoon. Obviously in large check of the country has the fine weather and plenty of sunshine certainly on the way for Northern Ireland and for scotla nd way for Northern Ireland and for scotland and certainly the northern aisles they are. Through the course of friday night that band of rain the very shower he rain, hit and missed will continue to drift northwards. At the growth of the course of saturday but across the country here, not expecting lashings of rain, more like mist of rain across england and wales and reaching Northern Ireland steel. The same time it does look as though it will stay dry and even sunny across much of scotland. A cool here, temperatures only 12 degrees in the south and at times overcast with those showers and around 16 celsius for major towns and cities. It does change a bit, more of an easterly wind, and dry when that will push the cloud towards the west and it will dry outcome sunday but feeling 00 59 02,089 4294966103 13 29,430 cool on the north sea coast