This is bbc news with the latest headlines. The Prime Minister is to hold a News Conference later this afternoon to give an update on the governments handling of coronavirus. It comes amid warnings from englands chief medical officer that a new variant of the virus is causing faster transmission in the south east. Wales, scotland and Northern Ireland have held a four nations call with westminster and will have their own cabinet meetings this afternoon. More than two thirds of those living in england 38 Million People are now subject to the toughest restrictions in tier 3. Meanwhile, italy imposes a nationwide lockdown over christmas and new year, as it tries to halt the sharp rise in coronavirus infections. Americans are set to get a second
coronavirus vaccine, as the moderna injection is approved in the us. And in half an hour, Amanda Ruggeri meets those developing new technologies to protect an ancient city. Good afternoon, and welcome to bbc news. The Prime Minister has been speaking to the cabinet this lunchtime to discuss whats being described as the alarming rate the coronavirus is spreading in london and south east england. He will hold a downing street News Conference at 4 oclock this afternoon with his chief medical and scientific advisers. New measures although it hasnt been specified what are said to be under consideration. Professor chris whitty has said the new strain of the virus does spread more quickly and that it is now more vital than ever that the public continue to take action in their area to reduce transmission. The welsh and scottish governments will hold cabinet meetings later and along with Northern Ireland they have been discussing their approach with westminster. Our Political Correspondent, jessica parker, reports. Not long now, christmas comes in less than a week and some families are agonising over what to do. Leanne in london is self isolating for two weeks ahead of she hopes travelling to see family. Shes now waiting to see what the government says. If they cut it down or stop it altogether, at literally four days to go, then its going to be a massive u turn and its going to upset and disappointed a lot of people. But if they do do that, then i understand why. The law is set to allow some limited temporary household mixing this christmas, but leaders across the uk have called for people to exercise caution. Yesterday, the Prime Minister pointed to worries about the viruss spread. I dont think this is the moment to let the brakes off too much anywhere. But is it time to go further . Today, reports that travel restrictions are being considered by ministers. Theres growing concern in government about a new variant of the virus in england and the rates of transmission in the south east. Its at the moment open to debate whether the virus has altered or weaponised itself a bit more. What we do believe at the moment is that it hasnt changed sufficiently to place it beyond the reach of the protection conferred by the vaccines were using, and it doesnt appear when people catch this new variant to make them any iller than the original coronavirus. It mightjust be that its better at spreading. Borisjohnson has said he doesnt want to ban christmas or criminalise peoples plans, but does the strengthened advice such as keeping visits short and avoiding overnight stays need to be stronger still . If they dont want to change the law, i think they can be clearer about what is and isnt advisable. Because it would be an enormous tragedy if we had a spike in deaths at the end of january, february because we took our foot off the pedal this close to having a vaccine. After christmas, wales and Northern Ireland already have new lockdowns planned. Borisjohnson hasnt ruled another one out for england. Further action may be on the table. Now, decisions must be made. And jessica is here now. A lot of speculation about what they are going to be announcing. What is
on their agenda in those meetings . What im picking up is that there is particular concern about the rights of the virus in london and the south east. Borisjohnson of the virus in london and the south east. Boris johnson yesterday said that the rates of the virus we re said that the rates of the virus were worrying. Notably, he did not rule out the possibility of a Third National lockdown for england. We know, after christmas, wales and Northern Ireland have already chosen to do that. These words from chris whitty as well that we have had in the last hour. Saying that they now consider this new strain to be spreading more quickly. Sol consider this new strain to be spreading more quickly. So i think thatis spreading more quickly. So i think that is likely to be a focus. That might be the problem, what solution are they going to come two days before there is set to be this relaxation of the rules for christmas . Up to three households able to mix. It is clear across the uk that is not what people should have as a target. They should still
avoid longer christmas festivities. But clearly this idea of travel restrictions we know it was discussed last night in a separate call with ministers. And i think there will be a Big Questions about how that will work, be enforced. Scientists have been sounding the alarm bells for weeks now, havent they . Weve kind of seen this theme a few times, havent we . Scientists are worried about the rates of the virus. The concern is that it makes people very ill, they end up in hospital, a huge pressure on the nhs. Every time you bring in tighter restrictions, lockdown measures, that has a impact on Public Health, peoples Mental Health. For boris johnson, as a politician, and you mentioned cabinet calls in wales and scotland as well, well they act in terms of trying to further curb
peoples Christmas Plans . Politically, that is quite a difficult thing to do at this stage, because so many people have made their plans. There was a concern earlier in the week that if people we re earlier in the week that if people were to change the rules. Just to remind you, we are going to be covering the outcome and the statement life here on bbc news. It begins at 3 30pm. It may of course begins at 3 30pm. It may of course be slightly later than that. I do hope you join us from 3 30pm. Lets speak to professor paul hunter microbiologist and professor of health protection. Thank you very much forjoining us here. Actually, we have not got that guest. Lets speak to the Shadow Public Health minister, alex norris. Thank you for your patience. Your
reaction, then. What do you think should be done . Lets start at the beginning. My initial reaction is relief that youre not going to ask me about microbiology, but it is important today, it is exceptionally concerning that the cabinet are having an emergency saturday meeting. We have seen throughout the week that infection rates are rising. It seems that the governments tier system hasnt worked. So we need to see two things out from the government, firstly immediate action to resolve the plan for christmas, because people rightly need to know because time is getting short. But we critically need a sober assessment of how these tiers havent worked and what the government is going to do differently, so that they are going to work and we can avoid a National Lockdown. What would you do differently . Well, there is a challenge in the sense that we havent got access to the same data they have. We would love to see more of that. But based on what we do know, we have been saying all week
that we didnt think the tears were strong enough. We need to strengthen the tier system. It is critical, and i say this all the time, the big gap in our offence remains test and trace. Why is the virus still spreading very quickly . Its because we detect people with the virus and we detect people with the virus and we are still not isolating them well enough. We need a functioning test and trace system to break transmission. We have been saying all week that we would follow the welsh approach, and certainly go down to two households maximum for christmas. Actually, ithink down to two households maximum for christmas. Actually, i think the reality is what we are going to hear todayis reality is what we are going to hear today is going to far outstrip that. Iam only today is going to far outstrip that. I am only following rumours on social media. I think thats the right thing to do. You could have greater restrictions now for christmas. Lets just talk about the timeline. What youre saying first off is that the tears are strong
enough. We are going to have greater restrictions after christmas. Should those restrictions come in before christmas . Because people are saying that there is going to be a possible spike after christmas as people gather. What is your timeline . I think its important to recognise that we are in the spike already. There is a danger of conflating increasing cases with the new strain and saying that things are increasing because of the new strain. I do not think that is the case. They are already increasing. Action today, absolutely. The reason i mention christmas versus because people need clarity on their plans. But theres nothing stopping us now. But theres nothing stopping us now. The nations in wales and Northern Ireland have said a National Lockdown after christmas. Scotla nd National Lockdown after christmas. Scotland are looking at that at the beginning part of this week. We need similar. National lockdown remains preve nta ble similar. National lockdown remains preventable if the government do the
right thing. We were told with the tier system, and tier 2 infection rates would broadly stay the same, in tier3 rates would broadly stay the same, in tier 3 that they would decrease. That is clearly not the case. The government need to take a sober reflection on what has not worked and change those things to make sure that they do. Sorry, ijust need to get this clarified. Because for most people, greater restriction versus lockdown, you are saying that there is going to be a need for greater restrictions to try and avoid a National Lockdown. Surely, the next lockdown when we move from tier 3 to your greater restrictions is a lockdown, isnt it . Yes, but the question there is whether you need to do that uniformly across the whole country, and at the moment you could say that the bear to the microdata doesnt bear that out. We need to see what the government are looking at today because we havent had a chance to look at that. But government are teasing across london
and the south east. If that is theirjudgment, we would support that. The next question would be whether that has to be across the whole of england, and again it would have to bejudged by whole of england, and again it would have to be judged by the whole of england, and again it would have to bejudged by the infection rates. Sorry, and what would your message be to businesses that say we do not need more restrictions . We need support for business. We have said this throughout, thats why we did not support the governments tier system. Particularly in the hospitality trade, they need proper support. They have not had that so far. What i would say to them is that we are fighting every day to get you that support. The government needs to step up. We are working for that every day. Thank you very much for your time. Lets speak to professor paul hunter microbiologist and professor of health protection. Thank you forjoining us. Obviously,
very important meetings taking place right now. And one of those is, if the warning that this variant is transmitting faster, does bear out, what are your thoughts on that . Yes, it is extremely disappointing, depressing that this new variant has a sort of hit us at this time. It wasnt known about before the start of this month and from what we can gather from what chris whitty has said it is already spread quite widely. I think there is evidence that in those areas where the new variant is, it is spreading more rapidly, even when local authorities are ina rapidly, even when local authorities are in a higher tier. Rapidly, even when local authorities are in a highertier. Ithink rapidly, even when local authorities are in a higher tier. I think it is too early at the moment to say whether the current tier system is working, but if, as it seems likely,
this variant is spreading more rapidly then it is certainly throws out all of the assessment and judgments and models that people have been using to work through what is going to happen over the course of the coming weeks. And it is extremely worrying. Professor, do tier systems. Work when it comes to virus. They do not know. The whole point of tier systems is that they reduce the sorts of interactions that you expect viruses transmit, and providing you can reduce those transmissions effectively then that will reduce transmission. I think there was evidence that the tier syste m there was evidence that the tier system in october was actually having some effect. Tier 3 local authorities were actually seeing quite a marked decline in cases. Tier2 quite a marked decline in cases. Tier 2 was about levelling off. In tier 2 was about levelling off. In tieri, it was tier 2 was about levelling off. In tier 1, it was increasing. Tier 2 was about levelling off. In tieri, it was increasing. But tier 2 was about levelling off. In tier 1, it was increasing. But i think the problem is that what was working in october, with a new, more infectious, more easily transmissible virus, may well not be working now. But certainly, it is looking quite bleak if we are not able to control this. Because if it is going to spread northwards, and possibly it might have already spread outside of the south and south east, looking at the data, time will tell how rapidly it spreads throughout the uk, and indeed possibly internationally. If it does behave more aggressively, it is going to cause notjust a problem for the uk but globally as well. Please stay with us. The professor
is hanging on. Before we go back to him, we have got some developments on this story. Nick eardley our Political Correspondent is here. The expectation is that the Prime Minister will be announcing a new higher tier of restrictions for england, 84, which we are not com pletely england, 84, which we are not completely sure exactly what it will involve. It will be stricter than tier 3 at the moment. The closure of nonessential retail, potentially restrictions on travel as well, and we are expecting that tier 4 will apply from this weekend to london and the south east of england at least. Now, the exact details of what that will mean for all of us are not completely clear. We are expecting more at 4pm when the Prime Minister stands up with the chief medical officer and scientific
adviser. But as weve been discussing, there is real concern in government and the Scientific Community about a new version of the virus which has been transmitting particularly in the south east of england, and the expectation is that that will mean this new tier for is introduced as soon as this weekend. I should say, if you are outside london and the south east of england, do not ignore this because i know there are discussions going on in scotland as well about whether you restrictions are needed in response to this new variant of the virus. The cabinet in wales is meeting as we speak as well to discuss the latest developments after a four nation call this morning. But the headline at moment is that there will be a new higher tier, tier 4 of restrictions, coming into london and the south east of england, which is likely to have a big impact on people in the capital
and the surrounding areas when it comes to christmas. Larrikin spirit has tweeted something. If you can see this, nick. Nick, when you look at that, and ive already been talking to people who have to leave london, you start to think how impact me. This is a really critical time, isnt it . Can igotoa really critical time, isnt it . Can i go to a lower tier . Its those travel restrictions and the amount of movements that are going to be taking place over this festive period that are key. What we have this afternoon is likely to have a big impact on peoples Christmas Plans, im sorry to say it. This new top tier is going to be significant. We do not know the exact details yet. I think that there will be
sparked stronger advice on leaving london and the south east. We know that the Prime Minister a couple of days ago were saying to people in england that he did not want to tighten the legal rules around christmas. There is a four nations agreement that they wanted to allow people some leeway to make their own decisions, although they were urging people where possible to stay home. But things have changed quite considerably in the last 48 hours or so. Considerably in the last 48 hours or so. We know that earlier this week the government was talking about this new variant of the virus. The medics think that it transmits faster than the variance we have at the moment. There is no suggestion that it will make you more ill or effect the vaccine, but the concern is about the number of new cases in london and the south east, plus this
new variant of the virus that i would expect by this evening we would expect by this evening we would be talking about significant changes to Christmas Plans and that tier 4, which the government wanted to avoid. So tier 4, a change in restrictions, a new tier being introduced, with that need parliamentary approval . Normally it does need parliamentary approval. We know that the commons has already gone on its christmas break, although there are contingencies there to bring them back if needs be. Actually, weve been talking about contingencies in the context of brexit. At this stage, we just do not know for sure whether this will be something that requires the commons to come back. But we are certainly in a place where the public can expect some significant changes in the next few days if they live in london and the south east of england. Just remind us how were
doing on those figures. Ive got the latest figures from last night. Daily positive cases in the uk was 28,507. It is going up. The number of deaths the last day the data is available for, 489. The picture is not a good one. It is not where the government wanted to be ahead of christmas. And i think we have clearly got to the point where they are so clearly got to the point where they are so worried about the impact that the relaxation of the rows christmas could have that they have decided that for parts of england that cannot happen. We will leave it there for now. A lot of changes. Im just going to remind you again. From 30 three micro 3 30p and we are going to start a special broadcast for that statement coming from downing street with medical advisers, scientific advisers and the Prime Minister. We are expecting
the Prime Minister. We are expecting the actual statement to come out of the actual statement to come out of the News Conference from 4pm. Our coverage starts at 3 30pm. I hope you canjoin coverage starts at 3 30pm. I hope you can join us coverage starts at 3 30pm. I hope you canjoin us for coverage starts at 3 30pm. I hope you can join us for that. Lets discuss what possible impact a tier 4 could have on the concerns that we are currently having. Let us return to the professor. Listening to that, is it tinkering . No, ithink to the professor. Listening to that, is it tinkering . No, i think the issue with whatever restrictions that you impose, any single thing that you impose, any single thing that you impose, any single thing that you do is going to maybe only reduce the transmission a little bit. But youre trying to do with these tier systems is have greater numbers of restrictions that hopefully, ta ken together, numbers of restrictions that hopefully, taken together, will suppress the our number to less than one. Its not entirely clear what
there is restrictions will be at the moment, whether it will include schools as well, or whether it will be restricting nonessential travel, but it will all add a little bit to the reduction, and hopefully that will be enough to slow the spread and bring it under control. But there is no guarantee of that. We still dont really know how much more infectious this new variant of the virus is than the old ones that most of our assumption and models have been based on. So it is quite difficult to predict what is going to be happening over the next few weeks to the epidemic. Im just looking at some words given to us that were said by peter herbie, the chair of the new and emerging nerve tag, and he says that evidence does suggest a change of behaviour that
makes the virus more transmissible. With her time and again that viruses mutate. What is that critical Tipping Point . Most times, mutations do the viruses harm. Occasionally, a mutation is important in terms of how that affects people. Sometimes it affects how ill people might get, but what we are seeing here, and we have seen it once before, where a new variant appears and then out competes all the other virus, and because it spreads more readily. Anything that is what we seeing here. The really worrying thing from my perspective is that this was something we didnt know about at the beginning of this month, and then appeared and it has already
seemed to become one of the dominant strains. It seems to be out competing the other virus is very fa st competing the other virus is very fast indeed. And that is a big concern, fast indeed. And that is a big concern, and it means that we do need to look at making restrictions tighter to keep it under control, then we would have done with the virus that was around in november. Then we would have done with the virus that was around in novemberlj know virus that was around in november. know there have been mutations taking place around the world, and yesterday south africa, which has the highest number of figures on the african continent, where there is a lot of concern, also announced that they have picked up the second variant. How are we likely to see the pattern of transmission . At the moment, in the uk, it is the south east. Is it going to move northwards . Almost certainly. One of the problems with looking at the data for the uk as a whole is that
it does hide the variation at regional level, and if you look at london and the south east regions the epidemic is really increasing really fast, whereas up in the north, particularly north west and north east, much less rapid increase. If anything, north east, much less rapid increase. Ifanything, more north east, much less rapid increase. If anything, more flat epidemic. That cannot last. And as the infection spreads more widely i think we are going to see other regions start to see accelerations in the epidemic, and i think we are already possibly beginning to see that in the east midlands and west midlands, where there are suggestions that the epidemic is taking off, and i dont know for certain but that might be because this variant virus is already starting to spread in those areas. But we will have to wait to see before the real data is shared. Earlier this week, they were parts
of the north that were arguing they do not need to go into tier 3 because their figures as you said are plateauing, sometimes coming down. What would your advice be then having just told us about the expected pattern of movement of transition of the new variant . think it would be a very, very brave decision to allow any local authority at the moment to move down authority at the moment to move down a tierwhen authority at the moment to move down a tier when this new variant that is coming out is actually far more aggressive than the assumption is that the modellers in london will be using to advise, and have been using, to advise the Prime Minister in recent weeks. So it is probably one of the worst things that we could see happening with the virus this time of year, really. In your ideal world, remove politics and economics, as a microbiologist what would you do to stop it . Its
difficult. I dont think there are any easy answers. The problem is that its notjust a Public Health decision, because there are all these other issues, educational demands on our children, the economy, peoples other social and Mental Health issues, and trying to strike the balance is as im sure i dont need to tell you really difficult. I think, dont need to tell you really difficult. Ithink, at dont need to tell you really difficult. I think, at the dont need to tell you really difficult. Ithink, at the moment, two we e ks difficult. Ithink, at the moment, two weeks ago i was fairly relaxed about how things were going to go. I felt that the new tier system was going to be working. I am no longer so going to be working. I am no longer so assured of that, and i think we will almost certainly see a continuation of this tier system, with the tier 4 and may be the tier for spreading to other areas as they start to see accelerated growth. Really, before we roll the vaccine out, that is pretty much all that weve got in the armament, really. We have seen sweden obviously change their approach to this, havent we . Sweden is seeing very rapid increases in its cases and its death at the moment. Sweden is not a good example of controlling the virus any more. How important is the seasons and temperatures . Weve got a new variant, we were told very early on in the watch out for winter. Absolutely. I think most of us have been saying this since last spring, because if we look at the other eight are coronaviruses, there is that now because the common cold tend to cause problems in december, january, february because they seem to spread more rapidly at that time. It was not too much of a stretch to presume that this virus was going to spread more rapidly during that period. And i think we are now going to be in for a very difficult couple of months at least as we move into 2021, and i cannot see much relaxation in regulations until march at the earliest. Two weeks ago i was saying that we might start seeing relaxations occurring in january, but i think that was in retrospect slightly over optimistic, because we did not then know about this new increased transmissible virus. It was great to have your dose of realism. Thank you very much. To remind you, join us for our news
special,