Britain reaches coronavirus 'tipping point': Cases TRIPLE in two weeks with 15,166 infections and 81 deaths as the government locks horns with Northern leaders over new restrictions to be announced tomorrow

  • UK recorded some 15,116 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, up from 13,864 on Friday, with 81 more deaths 
  • Comes as Government prepares to announce dramatic 'three-tier' lockdown system for England on Monday
  • Millions of people in Midlands and the North including Merseyside facing travel bans and the shutting of pubs 
  • Gateshead council leader Martin Gannon claimed cases 'were falling' across the North East of England 
  • He bolstered calls for ministers to dump 'counter-productive' plans to pull shutters down on pubs and bars    
  • Hospital deaths for the UK revealed last night with England recording 60, Wales 21 and six in Scotland 

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Britain has reached a coronavirus 'tipping point' one of the country's top scientists said as new figures reveal the nation's infections have trebled in two weeks with 15,166 more infections and 81 deaths recorded yesterday.   

The figures come as millions of people across the North face draconian new measures when Boris Johnson sets out the details of a new three-tier local lockdown system in a speech to MPs.

On Saturday, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer said 'the seasons are against us' and the country is running into a 'headwind' ahead of the winter months. 

In a statement, Prof Van-Tam said that while the epidemic 're-started' again among younger people over the past few weeks, there is 'clear evidence of a gradual spread into older age groups' in the worst-hit areas.

But he also said the UK has 'much improved testing capabilities' and 'better treatments' available, meaning that 'we know where it is and how to tackle it'.

He stressed the importance of following public health guidance and minimising contact with others, adding: 'I know this is very hard, but it is an unfortunate scientific fact that the virus thrives on humans making social contact with one another.'

On Saturday, in the daily update figures, the  country recorded another 15,116 Covid cases and 81 more deaths, up from 13,864 infections on Friday, 12,827 seven days ago and 6,739 a fortnight ago.   

Yesterday discussions were continuing between Number 10 and northern leaders ahead of Mr Johnson's announcement. It is understood the negotiations centre on the severity of the measures.

Potentially people could face fines if they travel between high and lower risk areas or breach orders to self-isolate and as an incentive for local leaders to co-operate, the Treasury will offer financial inducements – dubbed 'cash for crackdowns'. 

Negotiations over lockdown plans for the north and parts of the Midlands would see pubs and restaurants closed and social interaction between households in Covid-hit areas severely curtailed.

Ministers are understood to be giving Mayors powers to deploy an army of local volunteers to knock on doors and ask people to self-isolate in a bid to 'improve compliance', according to the Sunday Times.  

But the Prime Minister is facing strong opposition from leaders in some northern areas, who insist their infection rates are falling.

The premier also faces concern from Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who has been urging him to show 'restraint' over the new lockdown. 

Figures released on Saturday show the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 also rose from 3,660 to 3,837 in 24 hours - though the number of people in ventilator beds, 442, remained exactly the same as Friday. 

As the number of Covid cases triple in a fortnight and millions face lockdown, it emerged: 

  • Millions in North and Midlands are facing travel bans and pub closures as No.10 offers local leaders 'cash for crackdowns';
  • Town hall bosses will be given powers to deploy an army of local volunteers to knock on doors and ask people to self-isolate;
  • Labour leaders in the North demanded more cash handouts from the government to support lockdown and called the new furlough scheme 'insufficient'; 
  • Doctors have warned face masks should be mandatory inside and outside to curb the spread of infections; 
  • BCG vaccine was given to 1,000 people in Exeter University trial to test claims that it helps fight Covid by stimulating the immune system;
  • Schoolchildren have been banned from singing Happy Birthday over fears it could spread covid; 
  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock made a tasteless 'drinks on me' Covid test joke in Commons bar as he 'joined MPs flouting 10pm curfew'; 
  • 'Rule of Six' restriction may be lifted temporarily by Chancellor Rishi Sunak over the festive period

    Rise in Britons being treated with Covid in hospital is partly driven by them catching it on wards, figures show 

    The rise in Britons being treated with coronavirus in hospital is being driven in part by them catching it on the wards, the latest available figures indicate. 

    The number of hospital cases rose from 2,396 to 3,660 – an increase of 52 per cent – between September 30 and October 7. 

    But separate statistics show almost one in five with the virus in hospital tested positive seven days or more after admission – implying they caught it there. 

    The findings suggest Covid-19 hospitalisations caused by community outbreaks may not be growing as fast as some fear. 

    Rises in admissions have been greatest in North West England, say health officials. 

    But the total number of virus patients in UK hospitals is still a fraction of the peak figure of 19,849 in April. 

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    Further restrictions in the North of England must come with additional financial support, the shadow work and pensions secretary said today.

    Asked whether Labour support greater restrictions, Jonathan Reynolds told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'The first thing I just have to put on the record is the level of anger and frustration that exists in towns and constituencies like mine at the way this is happening.

    'There have been leaks to newspapers, there's been no consultation with local leaders - this is not the way to do things. People feel they are being treated with contempt and not with respect and that is simply not good enough.

    'To answer your question directly, the fact is there are going to have to be further measures and the reason for that is the Government has lost control. They've lost control of the messaging, they've lost control of Test and Trace, they've lost control of the virus, unfortunately.

    'And that means we're going to have to have the measures. That wasn't inevitable. That time we got from the lockdown and from the development of what should have been an effective Test and Trace system should have meant we didn't have to get to that position.

    'But the crucial point is this - further restrictions have to come with economic support.'

    The number of deaths dropped from the 87 recorded on Friday to 81 yesterday. The figure has increased from this time last week, when there were 53 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK, and 39 deaths recorded a fortnight ago. 

    The week-on-week infection figure rise comes despite last Saturday's data spiking following a 'technical issue' with the Government's reporting system - which saw cases almost double from the 6,968 recorded the day earlier. 

    The issue was later revealed to be a computer glitch, which meant 16,000 positive cases were left off between September 25 and October 2.  

    Earlier, in separate data, NHS England reported that 60 people with COVID-19 had died in hospitals in the space of 24 hours - all aged between 41 and 93 years old. All but five of them had known underlying health conditions.

    The figures were added in across the following few days, most notably on Sunday last week, when figures shot to a record high of 22,061 cases - more than at the peak of the pandemic in late April. 

    But many experts say the daily totals for testing are not comparable to the same totals at the peak of the pandemic when the country's testing programme was much smaller.

    They believe as many as 100,000 people were catching the virus every day at the peak of the pandemic.

    The latest figures mean there have been 590,844 cases across Britain since the start of the pandemic and 42,760 deaths - though separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 58,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

    The PM and the Chancellor held a meeting on Thursday in Downing Street, during which Mr Sunak is said to have 'forensically' picked apart the data provided by the Government's scientists to justify a hard lockdown.

    During the exchange, which continued late into the evening, Mr Sunak – a 'hawk' who is increasingly concerned about the economic damage being wrought by Covid rules – pointed out that calls to shut down hospitality venues were based on flawed and patchy information from just 98 pubs and 67 cafes and restaurants. 

    BCG vaccine is given to 1,000 people in Exeter University trial to test claims that it helps fight Covid 

    A vaccine usually given to protect children from tuburcolosis could help adults fight against coronavirus, according to researchers at the University of Exeter.

    The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine will be enrolled to 1,000 people after the shot was found to stimulate the immune system.

    It would not be the ultimate solution, but would instead help people fight off coronavirus until more effective vaccines are discovered.

    Prof John Campbell, at the University of Exeter Medical School, told the Guardian the vaccine could be a 'global game-changer'.

    The University of Exeter will enroll 2,000 UK community healthcare workers for the international Brace trial - which is recruiting 10,000 volunteers worldwide.

    Volunteers for the trial will either receive a shot of BCG or a placebo. They will then be monitored for a year to see if the vaccinated group pick up fewer Covid-19 infections or have fewer symptons.

    Preliminary results are expected in six to nine months.

    BCG usually causes an immune response against the bacterial disease TB - but it is now thought to help protect against viral infections.

    Last month trial results published in the journal Cell suggested elderly people have fewer respiratory infections after having the vaccine, according to work by an international team of scientists'.

    'If we see anything close to that sort of protection for coronavirus, this could be a global game changer,' Campbell said.

    The vaccine is designed to stimulate the adaptive immune system which can then release antibodies to destroy invading pathogens in TB.

    But it also offers a boost to the body's 'innate' immune system, meaning infections can be fended off before they get the chance to take hold. It is this effect that has given scientists hope it could work as a coronavirus vaccine.

    If found to protect against viral infections the vaccine could be rolled out in future pandemics.

     

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    Separate figures show there were 3,225 Covid-19 patients in hospital in England as of Saturday, up from 2,194 a week ago, while 396 Covid-19 hospital patients were in ventilation beds, up from 307 a week ago. 

    A total of 513 patients with confirmed Covid-19 were admitted to hospitals in England on Thursday, compared with 386 a week earlier.

    In Scotland, 397 Covid-19 patients were in hospital as of Friday, up from 175 a week earlier, with 33 in ventilation beds, up from 19 a week earlier.

    In Wales, 291 Covid-19 patients were in hospital as of Friday, up from 218 a week earlier, with 32 in ventilation beds, the same figure as a week earlier.

    Wales has also reported a further 627 cases and another 21 coronavirus-related deaths. Public Health Wales said that the sharp increase was the result of a delay in adding 17 fatalities from the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board between October 3-7. 

    In Northern Ireland, 132 Covid-19 patients were in hospital as of Thursday, up from 95 a week earlier, with 10 in ventilation beds as of Friday, up from seven a week earlier.

    Data on patients with Covid-19 is not comparable across the UK due to differences in the way the figures are reported.

    Separate statistics show almost one in five with the virus in hospital tested positive seven days or more after admission – implying they caught it there.

    The findings suggest Covid-19 hospitalisations caused by community outbreaks may not be growing as fast as some fear. 

    Rises in admissions have been greatest in North West England, say health officials. 

    But the total number of virus patients in UK hospitals is still a fraction of the peak figure of 19,849 in April.

    This comes as millions of people in the Midlands and the North are facing travel bans and the shutting of pubs, with local communities tasked with enforcing the Test and Trace programme. 

    The deployment of the 'Covid vigilantes' is an effective admission from Downing Street that the national programme has failed.

    The complications could also lead to the staggered implementation of different measures, possibly on a postcode-by-postcode basis. 

    The Prime Minister's adviser, Sir Eddie Lister, spent Saturday in discussions with local leaders in the areas concerned. One source said the negotiations centred on the severity of the measures. 

    It was suggested that in Merseyside, one of the worst-affected places – with 600 cases per 100,000, all pubs and bars would be closed as part of 'Tier 3' measures, but that restaurants would be allowed to remain open.

    This led to strained exchanges about the definition of a restaurant, as opposed to a pub which serves food.

    The leaders are being offered incentives by No 10 to co-operate with the plans, which could be enacted as early as Wednesday.

    On Friday local leaders urged the Government not to punish the North East of England with draconian lockdown restrictions forcing the closure of pubs and bars, as it is claimed the number of daily new coronavirus infections in the region has begun to fall. 

    Stringent measures saw almost two million Britons barred from mixing with others from outside their household in private homes, gardens, pubs and restaurants on September 18. 

    But Gateshead council leader Martin Gannon claimed on Saturday that - when students are removed from the figures - the number of new cases in Newcastle and Gateshead is now starting to drop. 

    'We have evidence in the region - if you take the spike in students out - even in central Newcastle and central Gateshead we're beginning to see a reduction in the number of new cases,' he said. 'What we're saying is the measures are working at the moment.'

    He bolstered calls from local chiefs across the region for ministers to dump their 'counter-productive' plans to pull the shutters down on local pubs and bars, arguing current restrictions are all that's needed. 

    Gateshead recorded a 72 per cent spike in its infection rate over the last seven days, according to Public Health England's weekly surveillance report, rising from 129.4 to 221.7 cases per 100,000 people. In Newcastle the rate rose by 90 per cent, from 250.5 to 475 per 100,000.

    More than 1,800 students tested positive for the virus in the North East on Thursday, with 1,003 at Newcastle University, 619 at Northumbria University and 219 at Durham University. Northumbria University also said 770 students had tested positive on October 3. Students in affected halls of residence have been asked to quarantine. 

    Official Government data shows that the number of positive cases identified each day in the local areas appears to be declining. But experts have warned this may be due to delays in processing swabs, as labs continue to work through a backlog of samples.

    The Government is expected to unveil its 'three-tier' lockdown system on Monday, with the North East, North West and Nottinghamshire all predicted to fall under the strictest category of measures - which will see bars and pubs forced to close but restaurants allowed to stay open until 10pm. 

    The Prime Minister's chief strategic adviser Sir Edward Lister wrote to northern MPs following a meeting with leaders from the North on Friday to warn it was 'very likely' the region would be hit with tougher coronavirus restrictions. But northern leaders have complained they have not been consulted and said that more restrictions will lead to further 'resistance and confusion'. 

    Raising the alarm over tougher lockdown restrictions, Gateshead leader Mr Gannon told the Today programme they are fighting against tightened rules because the evidence suggests current measures are stemming the rising tide of infections. 

    All out...before the curfew! Revellers play cricket in the street and Piccadilly Circus turns into a rave as drinkers are kicked out of bars in time for 10pm 

    Crowds of revellers were once again seen piling out into the streets and partying last night after being kicked out of bars at the 10pm curfew in London.

    Shocking footage shows hundreds of bar-goers dancing to a loud sound system in Piccadilly Circus in the capital, days before millions in the north could see more stringent coronavirus measures taken, including the shutting of pubs.

    In south London, separate footage showed large groups gather for a game of cricket in the street after bars closed.

    In Piccadilly Circus, people packed together with few face masks in sight as music blared from a speaker.

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    The above graph shows the number of patients in mechanical ventilator beds in the North East and Yorkshire

    The above graph shows the number of patients in mechanical ventilator beds in the North East and Yorkshire

    COUNTY DURHAM: Cases also appear to be falling in this local area. They are shown by date the test was taken

    COUNTY DURHAM: Cases also appear to be falling in this local area. They are shown by date the test was taken

    Landlords' fury at plans to 'order pubs to shut but allow restaurants to stay OPEN until 10pm' 

    Landlords are furious with Boris Johnson's expected plans to order pubs to shut across northern England in a new coronavirus clampdown while restaurants can stay open until 10pm.

    The Government's new regime would see hospitality taking another hit as local restrictions would see pubs and bars in Merseyside and other parts of the North ordered to shut their doors. In a sign of official confusion, however, restaurants will be allowed to remain open until the curfew.

    Similar measures are expected to be announced in Nottinghamshire as well as Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Newcastle, while the rules will be reviewed after a month.

    In a joint statement, the mayors of Greater Manchester, the Sheffield and Liverpool city regions and North Tyne said: 'What has been announced by the chancellor today is a start but, on first look, it would not appear to have gone far enough to prevent genuine hardship, job losses and business failure this winter.'

    Industry experts also denounced the package, with Greg Mulholland of the Campaign for Pubs saying: 'The level of support announced by the Chancellor is nowhere enough to compensate pubs being forced to close.

    'Many publicans will be forced into even more debt just to survive. There is real anger when pubs have been working hard to operate safely.'

    Meanwhile, Chris Snowdon, from the Institute of Economic Affairs, told MailOnline any tightening of restrictions involving the closure of pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants will be 'counter-productive'.

    He pointed to the situation in Bolton, where cases have rocketed by 39 per cent over the past seven days to 250 per 100,000 despite heightened restrictions on hospitality.

    'I suspect that a lot of the transmission in recent weeks is from private gatherings, many of which are technically illegal,' he said, referring to infections across the whole country.

    'The 10pm closing time led to more house parties, less social distancing. I don't think pubs being closed is going to stop people meeting for a drink.'

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    'We're opposing further restrictions in the North East on the basis of the scientific evidence,' he said.

    'We have evidence in the region - there is a spike in students but if you take the students out - even in central Newcastle and central Gateshead - we're beginning to see a reduction in the number of new cases.

    'So our argument is that even with the mixed messaging, even with the confusion and frustration, the measures that are in at the moment are beginning to work.

    He pleaded: 'Work with us, give us more time, help us to win confidence and persuade people - those really good people in Newcastle who want to do the right thing.'

    The Labour leader also revealed he had a meeting with senior Government advisers and 40 other North East leaders this week to discuss the new restrictions, but no national politicians were present.

    He said they made 'very clear arguments' to halt the closure of hospitality venues on the basis of evidence they had gathered.

    'I think new measures would be counter-productive,' he said. 'We had three different sets of regulations in 10 days which caused huge resistance and confusion.

    'Our argument is that even with the mixed messaging, even with the confusion and frustration, the measures that are in at the moment are beginning to work.' 

    It comes as the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham called on MPs to 'reject' Rishi Sunak's furlough scheme because it will lead to 'severe redundancies' across the North of England - and said hospitality employees should receive 100 per cent of their wages.

    Under furlough mark two, workers can claim two-thirds of their wages up to £2,100 from the UK Government if coronavirus restrictions require their employers to pull down the shutters.

    But Mr Burnham said the scheme would 'surrender our residents to hardship in the run-up to Christmas and our businesses to potential failure'.

    Speaking at a press conference also attended by mayors from Liverpool and North Tyne, he said the new scheme and further restrictions combined would bring an economic blow that would 'level down' the North.

    'It will level down the North of England and widen the North-South divide,' he said.

    'We are today writing to all MPs who represent constituencies in the North of England. What we are asking our MP colleagues to do is to support what our MPs are saying and support constituents who are plunged into hardship by these measures.

    'We are asking them to bring about a vote to allow MPs either to support or - what we hope - to reject this package and require the Government to return with a package that responds fully to all of the points I've just made.'

    His words were echoed by Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson on the Today programme this morning, who blasted the scheme as 'not generous' and accused the Government of showing 'disdain' for the North.

    Speaking at a press conference also attended by mayors from Liverpool (pictured: Liverpool city centre) and North Tyne, Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham said the new scheme and further restrictions combined would bring an economic blow that would 'level down' the North

    Speaking at a press conference also attended by mayors from Liverpool (pictured: Liverpool city centre) and North Tyne, Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham said the new scheme and further restrictions combined would bring an economic blow that would 'level down' the North

    His words were echoed by Liverpool (pictured: Liverpool city centre) Mayor Joe Anderson on the Today programme this morning, who blasted the scheme as 'not generous' and accused the Government of showing 'disdain' for the North

    His words were echoed by Liverpool (pictured: Liverpool city centre) Mayor Joe Anderson on the Today programme this morning, who blasted the scheme as 'not generous' and accused the Government of showing 'disdain' for the North

    More than 1,800 students tested positive for the virus in the North East on Thursday, with 1,003 at Newcastle (pictured: Revellers in the city centre) University, 619 at Northumbria University and 219 at Durham University. Northumbria University also said 770 students had tested positive on October 3
    Northumbria University also said 770 students had tested positive on October 3. Students in affected halls of residence have been asked to quarantine. Pictured: Revellers in Newcastle city centre

    More than 1,800 students tested positive for the virus in the North East on Thursday, with 1,003 at Newcastle (pictured left and right: Revellers out in Newcastle city centre) University, 619 at Northumbria University and 219 at Durham University. Northumbria University also said 770 students had tested positive on October 3. Students in affected halls of residence have been asked to quarantine

    'Rule of Six' restriction may be lifted temporarily by Chancellor over festive period 

    The 'Rule of Six' restriction on social mixing could be lifted temporarily for Christmas to let family groups of up to 12 enjoy the festive period. 

    If approved, the limit on meetings of more than six people would be doubled during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to allow inter-generational celebrations. 

    The temporary total of 12 was chosen because it would allow two sets of grandparents and parents, three children and an aunt or uncle to meet without flouting the law. 

    Those two days were suggested because, typically, they are when families spend the most time indoors together – and by Boxing Day are keen to escape outside. 

    Business Secretary Alok Sharma is understood to be the leading Cabinet advocate of the plan – assuming Covid infection rates have been broadly kept under control by mid-December. 

    The temporary lifting is regarded as a better option than the alternative plan, which would be for families to isolate for a fortnight before Christmas to allow them to gather on the day.  

    The rule of 12 plan is being hatched as Tory MPs grow increasingly restive about the rule of six and the 10pm pub curfew.

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    Hammering the Government for not going far enough, Labour party member Anderson told the Today programme: '(The new furlough scheme) is not generous at all, it is indeed lower than the previous furlough scheme that was introduced.

    'I just wonder that if this was in Southern areas of the country, or in London, whether  it would be at this level and not at a different level.

    'We feel, I feel personally, that the North is being treated with disdain by this Government.

    'But I guess, when you look at it, it's better than nothing and the pressure that we've put on the last few weeks demanded some local furlough scheme. At least it's now being heard'.

    Mayor Anderson warned the city would likely be plunged into a 'tier-three' lockdown under plans to be announced by Boris Johnson on Monday.

    This would see the closure of pubs and bars, he said, but restaurants would be allowed to stay open until 10pm.

    Liverpool's infection rate spiked 116 per cent in the last week, according to figures compiled by Public Health England, rising from 239.3 to 517.4 cases per 100,000 people. 

    Mr Gannon also put forward his concerns on the furlough scheme, warning many people working in pubs, bars and restaurants - which are likely to be asked to close - will struggle to 'put food on the table' with just two-thirds of their wages.

    He told the Today programme: 'I know people who work in the hospitality sector and even on full pay they struggle to put food on the table for their families.

    'For Rishi Sunak, I mean he may be able to live on two-thirds of his salary, you and I, we would be able to live on two-thirds of our salary, but for many of those people who work in the hospitality sector they can't comply with requirements.

    'They're not going to obey the law on the basis of two-thirds of their salary.' 

    The Imperial College London-led REACT study estimates there were 45,000 new cases of coronavirus every day in England during the week ending October 5 - almost half the predicted rate of transmission during the darkest days of the crisis in April
    A report by the Office for National  Statistics showed that more than 0.4 per cent of people in England were thought to be infected with Covid-19 in the week up to October 1, which was the highest estimate since the data began in May. It suggests that one in every 240 people has the disease, although this varies widely according to which part of the country people are in

    The Imperial College London-led REACT study (left) estimates that more than 0.6 per cent of the population of England had coronavirus in the week up to October 5, while the ONS (right) puts the figure at around 0.41 per cent for the week ending October 1

    Data shows in Fallowfield in Manchester - a thriving student suburb of the city - five per cent of people tested positive for the disease in the week ending October 2

    Data shows in Fallowfield in Manchester - a thriving student suburb of the city - five per cent of people tested positive for the disease in the week ending October 2

    Britain's coronavirus reproduction rate has fallen slightly, according to the Government's scientific advisers. They say the current R value - the number of people each Covid-19 patient infects - is between 1.2 and 1.5. This is down slightly on last week's range of 1.3 and 1.

    Britain's coronavirus reproduction rate has fallen slightly, according to the Government's scientific advisers. They say the current R value - the number of people each Covid-19 patient infects - is between 1.2 and 1.5. This is down slightly on last week's range of 1.3 and 1.

    Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson slammed the Government for bringing forward a furlough scheme that was 'not generous' enough
    Rishi Sunak announced furlough mark two yesterday, where employees can claim up to two-thirds of their wages from the UK Government if their business is asked to close

    Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson slammed the Government for bringing forward a furlough scheme that was 'not generous' enough

    Doctors say masks should be mandatory inside AND outside 

    Face masks should be made mandatory outdoors as well as indoors and in workplaces where social distancing cannot be practiced, top doctors have warned.

    The British Medical Association suggests that those older than 60, or who are obese or have other health conditions making them vulnerable to coronavirus should be supplied with 'medical grade' masks, in line with WHO guidance.

    Dr Chaand Nagpaul, its chairman, said the Government's measures to suppress Covid-19 are not working and called for further measures including a restriction of alcohol sales in England and a tightening of the Rule of Six to limit the number of households which can mingle to two

    He also warned the public is in danger of losing faith in existing restrictions, and urged for face masks to be worn outdoors where people cannot keep two metres apart — including in offices and other workplaces.

    Face masks are already compulsory on public transport, railways stations and airports, shops, and cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants before being seated.

    The BMA boss told The Times: 'It cannot be easy for the public to understand what will make a difference if they're told to wear a mask in one setting, but then it's not required in another.

    'It's clear that most workplaces were never designed for people to work two metres apart. The rules should be absolutely that where you are likely to interact with one another within two metres, you wear a mask indoors.

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    In a joint statement, the mayors of Greater Manchester, the Sheffield and Liverpool city regions and North Tyne said: 'What has been announced by the chancellor today is a start but, on first look, it would not appear to have gone far enough to prevent genuine hardship, job losses and business failure this winter.'

    Industry experts also denounced the package, with Greg Mulholland of the Campaign for Pubs saying: 'The level of support announced by the Chancellor is nowhere enough to compensate pubs being forced to close.

    'Many publicans will be forced into even more debt just to survive. There is real anger when pubs have been working hard to operate safely.'

    Meanwhile, the leaders of West Yorkshire councils warned another lockdown will have a 'devastating' effect on the town and city centres and regional economy.

    In a joint letter to the Chancellor and health and housing secretaries on Friday, the leaders said that Chancellor Rishi Sunak's announcement that workers in businesses which are forced to close under the new restrictions will have two-thirds of their wages paid by the Government was 'not enough'.

    They added: 'Government must, for both levels two and three, provide a substantial economic package including grants and furlough - not just where businesses are mandated to close.

    'In a three-level approach, there must be significantly more support available to businesses in areas that are in either level two or level three to avoid an even deeper economic catastrophe.' 

    Chris Snowdon, from the Institute of Economic Affairs, told MailOnline any tightening of restrictions involving the closure of pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants will be 'counter-productive'. 

    He pointed to the situation in Bolton, where cases have rocketed by 39 per cent over the past seven days to 250 per 100,000 despite heightened restrictions on hospitality.

    'I suspect that a lot of the transmission in recent weeks is from private gatherings, many of which are technically illegal,' he said, referring to infections across the whole country.

    'The 10pm closing time led to more house parties, less social distancing. I don't think pubs being closed is going to stop people meeting for a drink.'

    He added: 'It's interesting that local leaders are opposed to these measures. We've also seen this in Spain where the Madrid Government is fighting the Spanish Government.

    'We don't know what the (UK Government) announcement is going to be yet, but you're always going to get cases where you have badly affected regions or towns where infections are going up sharply but have places where infections are low.

    Deputy chief medical officer warns UK hospitals are seeing similar number of Covid patients to those at outbreak 

    The Government's deputy chief medical officer has claimed the UK is nearly back to where it was in March as hospital admissions for coronavirus surged by 50 per cent in a week in England.

    Jonathan Van-Tam told MPs that intensive care units in the North West could be full within three weeks as the latest figures show there are now 3,090 Covid-19 patients being treated in English hospitals. This is just seven fewer than on March 23, when the national lockdown was imposed.

    On Wednesday, 491 new patients were admitted to hospitals, close to the 586 on March 19 — the week before Boris Johnson gave his 'stay at home' order.

    During that time the average number of daily admissions has surged from 285 to 441, showing that hospitalisations are picking up now that the number of cases is hitting high levels.

    Hospital admissions could be doubling every week in the North West as Professor Van-Tam said the region's intensive care beds were 'two to three doubling times' away from capacity.

    Yesterday Britain recorded 13,864 cases and 87 deaths, compared with just 74 deaths on March 19. At the time, the coronavirus epidemic was doubling every three or four days.

    Official figures released yesterday indicate that the true figure of infections doubled in a week to 45,000 a day amid fears the outbreak is 'getting out of control'.

    The North is being hit disproportionately hard and accounted for 60 per cent of hospitalisations on that day, which is the most recent data available.

    With the Midlands included, areas outside of the South account for around three quarters of admissions, again drawing a line through the North-South divide. 

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    'When you take a broad brush you are going to negatively affect people who are not enjoying any of the benefits. But the Government has decided it wants to simplify the equation.' 

    Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds has said that the North of England feels 'forgotten' due to the incoming new restrictions.

    'We've currently got one in four people living under localised restrictions and yet coming from the Government's side, for example what the Chancellor's being setting out, often it's as if those restrictions are not in place anywhere.

    'The Chancellor didn't mention the situation in the North and the Midlands at all in his conference speech. I had to track him, in fact one of his ministers came to talk in parliament. But some of those areas have been under restrictions for a really long time.'

    A think-tank has warned the scheme could cost the Treasury £2.4billion in six months, on top of the billions spent during the national lockdown. The Resolution Foundation made the prediction after predicting more than 444,000 hospitality employees would qualify for the scheme. The second round of furlough will be reviewed in January.  

    In the scheme, employers will still be required to meet the cost of national insurance payments and pension contributions. There will also be more grants available up to £3,000 a month, payable in two-week installations.

    It comes after slides from a Government presentation to Northern MPs - which were published after they were leaked - revealed its assertion that 30 per cent of all coronavirus transmissions may be happening in pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants.

    Furious MPs blasted the claim saying it was an example of ministers 'cobbling together' numbers to 'justify' their point of view - ahead of expected sweeping restrictions. 

    Experts from the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) also rubbished the official claim, reminding ministers that data shows less than five per cent of those contacted by NHS Test and Trace had been in close contact with another person in a hospitality venue.

    They also pointed to the enforced closure of hospitality venues in Bolton and Leicester, saying it had failed to curb the spread of the disease. The latest Public Health England data reveals cases surged by 39 per cent in Bolton this week, with the rate rising to 250.6 per 100,000 people, and in Leicester they rose by 35 per cent to 120.2. 

    A business minister yesterday defended the Government's 'flimsy' data based on fewer than 100 pubs, saying he would have used the 'quite representative' sample size while working in the business sector. 

    The Government claimed in a private press briefing yesterday that up to 30 per cent of coronavirus transmission is linked to pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. The slides were leaked - and ministers then decided to publish them in full. Above is one of the 13 slides from the press briefing

    The Government claimed in a private press briefing yesterday that up to 30 per cent of coronavirus transmission is linked to pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. The slides were leaked - and ministers then decided to publish them in full. Above is one of the 13 slides from the press briefing 

    This slide, revealed on Friday, was also shown at the briefing. It reveals how infection rates are highest among young people

    This slide, revealed on Friday, was also shown at the briefing. It reveals how infection rates are highest among young people

    Nadhim Zahawi MP told LBC: 'I used to work in the serving industry and I can tell you when you do business surveys, 98 businesses, or 100 businesses, is actually quite a representative sample. If you're doing public opinions, 1,000 interviews is a representative sample. It's actually a pretty robust sampling.'

    Schoolchildren are banned from singing Happy Birthday in the classroom over fears it could spread coronavirus 

    Schoolchildren have been banned from singing Happy Birthday in classrooms over fears it could spread coronavirus.

    Children have been told to listen to the song on YouTube or hum the tune rather than sing it at some schools.

    Birthday cakes from home have also been banned by some schools to prevent transmission of the virus.

    Singing can leave droplets in the surrounding air, meaning infectious individuals risk spreading the virus when they open their mouths.

    It has not been banned in all schools yet but people have been banned from singing in pubs and churches.

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    And the Prime Minister's deputy spokesman dug his heels in claiming hospitality venues account for the 'highest rates of common exposure to Covid-19, especially for those under 30 years old'. 

    His claim comes after enraged MPs slammed the Government for presenting the 'early analysis' figures to them, and criticised officials' decision to include a three-month-old American study from which they cherry-picked the figures to bolster their claims.

    The slides - marked 'Cabinet Office' - also claimed claimed food outlets and bars made up as much as 41 per cent of transmission among the under 30s. But this was in stark contrast to Public Health England's own data, which suggested only four per cent of Covid-19 outbreaks can be traced back to the venues.

    The NHS coronavirus app was revealed yesterday to have sent only one alert related to one venue since its launch two weeks ago, despite millions of check-ins and more than 16million downloads. 

    Shadow digital minister Chi Onwurah told Sky News this was a 'plain contradiction' of the Government's claim hospitality venues were a major source, and said ministers 'need to get a grip'. 

    After ministers confirmed they will not shut schools, experts have argued they have few options left in terms of where to close to reduce social interaction, which is where the virus spreads - meaning the axe may fall on the hospitality sector. Many scientists have, however, argued against tightening the measures - and urged ministers to instead try to learn how to live with the virus.  

    Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty briefed 149 MPs from the North and the Midlands yesterday to tell them that a 'significant proportion' of exposure to coronavirus was happening in the hospitality sector. 

     

    Last orders before curfew! Boris Johnson calls in the Covid vigilantes as millions in North and Midlands face travel bans and pub closures as No.10 offers local leaders 'cash for crackdowns' - while daily infection rate hits 15,166 with 81 deaths

    Boris Johnson's plans to introduce tough new lockdown measures in England were going down to the wire on Saturday as discussions between No 10 and local leaders continued late into the evening.

    Millions of people in the Midlands and the North are facing travel bans and the shutting of pubs, with local communities tasked with enforcing the Test and Trace programme.

    People could face fines if they travel between high and lower risk areas or breach orders to self-isolate.

    The deployment of the 'Covid vigilantes' is an effective admission from Downing Street that the national programme has failed.

    People out socialising in Newcastle city centre make their way home after the 10pm curfew introduced  to combat the rise in coronavirus cases

    People out socialising in Newcastle city centre make their way home after the 10pm curfew introduced  to combat the rise in coronavirus cases

    Boris Johnson plans to introduce tough new lockdown measures in England. Pictured: Group of friends in Liverpool city centre, ahead of the 10pm curfew

    Boris Johnson plans to introduce tough new lockdown measures in England. Pictured: Group of friends in Liverpool city centre, ahead of the 10pm curfew

    Friends were out drinking in Soho, London, after a range of new restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases came into place in England

    Friends were out drinking in Soho, London, after a range of new restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases came into place in England

    Police were on patrol as revellers enjoyed a night out in the centre of Liverpool ahead of new measures set to be introduced in the northwest next week

    Police were on patrol as revellers enjoyed a night out in the centre of Liverpool ahead of new measures set to be introduced in the northwest next week

    Whitty's 'dodgy dossier' on virus spread in pubs 

    By Stephen Adams, medical editor for the Mail On Sunday 

    Thousands of pubs across northern England could be closed on the basis of what critics claim is a 'dodgy dossier' of evidence presented by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

    On Thursday Professor Whitty showed MPs data which purported to show that 33 per cent of infections may be occurring in pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants.

    He proceeded to tell them that a 'significant proportion' of exposure to the virus was taking place in such establishments.

    But the conclusions were drawn from a very small sample which has since been criticised as being 'incredibly thin' data and a 'dodgy dossier'. It came from an 'enhanced contact tracing exercise' which asked where infected people told tracers who they had met, and where. This 'early analysis' has not been published yet.

    If two infected people both told tracers they had been to a venue in the last week, it was seen as an indication – but not proof – that the virus might have been passed between them there. However, in the methodology used, the two people need not have been to the venue at the same time.

    In the study there were 98 occasions when two or more people told contact tracers they had been to the same pub, representing 22 per cent of potential incidents of exposure. On a further 67 occasions, meetings between two infected people took place in cafes, bars and restaurants, representing an additional 11 per cent of exposure incidents.

    The results appear to contradict those from many other studies, including NHS Test and Trace data, which indicate the majority of infections take place within the home. 

    Test and Trace figures indicate that less than five per cent of transmissions take place in pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants.

    Ministers are considering much tighter restrictions on hospitality venues in areas with high infection rates, which could see thousands of pubs across the north of England forced to close in the coming days.

    One Conservative MP said: 'It is clear that the data to justify further action is incredibly thin.'

    Christopher Snowden, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: 'A dodgy dossier passed around by Chris Whitty in private is simply not good enough.'

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    The complications could also lead to the staggered implementation of different measures, possibly on a postcode-by-postcode basis.

    As an incentive for local leaders to co-operate, the Treasury will offer financial inducements – dubbed 'cash for crackdowns'.

    Mr Johnson will set out the details of a new three-tier local lockdown system in a speech to MPs tomorrow. 

    The Prime Minister's adviser, Sir Eddie Lister, spent Saturday in discussions with local leaders in the areas concerned. One source said the negotiations centred on the severity of the measures. 

    It was suggested that in Merseyside, one of the worst-affected places – with 600 cases per 100,000, all pubs and bars would be closed as part of 'Tier 3' measures, but that restaurants would be allowed to remain open.

    This led to strained exchanges about the definition of a restaurant, as opposed to a pub which serves food.

    The leaders are being offered incentives by No 10 to co-operate with the plans, which could be enacted as early as Wednesday.

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also been urging the Prime Minister to show 'restraint' over the new lockdown. 

    The pair held a meeting on Thursday in Downing Street, during which Mr Sunak is said to have 'forensically' picked apart the data provided by the Government's scientists to justify a hard lockdown.

    During the exchange, which continued late into the evening, Mr Sunak – a 'hawk' who is increasingly concerned about the economic damage being wrought by Covid rules – pointed out that calls to shut down hospitality venues were based on flawed and patchy information from just 98 pubs and 67 cafes and restaurants.

    It came as 15,166 new positive cases were recorded on Saturday in the UK, up from 13,864 on Friday. 

    The number of deaths rose by 81 to 42,760. 

    Last Sunday the daily figure reached a 22,961 high after a glitch in the way tests were calculated meant nearly 16,000 unaccounted-for positive tests were added to that day's total.

    Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, warned that many will face 'severe hardship' under the Government's financial support package for businesses forced to close. 

    During a press conference with other leaders from the North, Mr Burnham said the measures unveiled by Mr Sunak on Friday were 'insufficient' and that he had been told by No 10 that the proposed help was 'non-negotiable'.

    Mr Burnham and Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, together with mayors from Sheffield and North of Tyne, have written to MPs in northern England asking them to call for a separate vote on the Chancellor's latest package – and to reject it.

    A 'trade union' of northern Conservative MPs has been launched to put pressure on the Government to deliver on its 'levelling up' promises to the region. 

    Some 27 Tory MPs have signed up to the Northern Research Group, which is led by former Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry.

    Last night anti-lockdown MPs said the message Ministers have been keen to convey is that they are 'optimistic' about getting a vaccine, with the plan to resume normal life dependent on rolling it out to the most vulnerable – something they estimate will take 'six months'.

    It was suggested that in Merseyside (above, Liverpool city centre) all pubs and bars would be closed as part of 'Tier 3' measures, but that restaurants would be allowed to remain open

    Police were on patrol as revellers enjoyed a night out in the centre of Liverpool ahead of new measures set to be introduced in the northwest next week

    Police were on patrol as revellers enjoyed a night out in the centre of Liverpool ahead of new measures set to be introduced in the northwest next week

    Mr Burnham has written to MPs in northern England asking them to call for a separate vote on the Chancellor's latest package – and to reject it

    Mr Burnham has written to MPs in northern England asking them to call for a separate vote on the Chancellor's latest package – and to reject it

    People out socialising in Liverpool city centre, ahead of the 10pm curfew that pubs and restaurants are subject to in order to combat the rise in coronavirus case

    People out socialising in Liverpool city centre, ahead of the 10pm curfew that pubs and restaurants are subject to in order to combat the rise in coronavirus case

    Soaring hospitalisation figures 

    The rise in Britons being treated with coronavirus in hospital is being driven in part by them catching it on the wards, the latest available figures indicate.

    The number of hospital cases rose from 2,396 to 3,660 – an increase of 52 per cent – between September 30 and October 7.

    But separate statistics show almost one in five with the virus in hospital tested positive seven days or more after admission – implying they caught it there.

    The findings suggest Covid-19 hospitalisations caused by community outbreaks may not be growing as fast as some fear.

    Rises in admissions have been greatest in North West England, say health officials. But the total number of virus patients in UK hospitals is still a fraction of the peak figure of 19,849 in April.

     

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    The optimistic view is this rollout can be done by Easter, and the pessimistic view is it will take until next summer, one Tory MP said.

    'The strategy is two-fold – suppress the virus until a vaccine, and protect the NHS,' an MP said. 

    'The economy cannot be preserved in aspic [until a vaccine comes].'

    The Government has said it will put the new lockdown measures to Parliament this week. 

    A vote on the 10pm curfew is already scheduled for Tuesday, although Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg is expected to make a statement to the House tomorrow, changing the planned votes for the week.

    Conservative backbenchers unhappy with the lockdown policies are not planning to stage a rebellion, however. 

    Several MPs said Sir Keir Starmer's decision not to vote against the Government on the curfew means most Conservatives will not break ranks in the face of a likely Government victory.

    Mr Sunak's meeting with Mr Johnson came after Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty told MPs from the North and the Midlands that a 'significant proportion' of exposure to coronavirus was due to the hospitality sector, arguing 32 per cent of transmissions may be occurring in pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants, and only 2.6 per cent in the home.

    However, NHS Test and Trace figures reveal that 75.3 per cent of transmissions take place at home and only 5.5 per cent happen in pubs, restaurants and churches.

    Professor Whitty's deputy, Jonathan Van-Tam, also told MPs last week that 'the 10pm curfew is better than 2am – but not as good as 6pm'. 

    One MP said: 'It was clear that some things just aren't his problem. 

    'It is not his problem to consider the viability of restaurants. We are hitting hospitality because we can, because we can't shut schools.'

    Two girls in strikingly similar outfits carried their drinks through the streets in Liverpool ahead of tighter coronavirus restrictions being imposed

    Two girls in strikingly similar outfits carried their drinks through the streets in Liverpool ahead of tighter coronavirus restrictions being imposed

    Police officers were on patrol in Soho, central London, after a range of new restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases came into place in England

    Police officers were on patrol in Soho, central London, after a range of new restrictions to combat the rise in coronavirus cases came into place in England

    One girl was being carried by a friend through the streets of Liverpool city centre ahead of the 10pm curfew that pubs and restaurants are subject to in order to combat the rise in coronavirus cases

    One girl was being carried by a friend through the streets of Liverpool city centre ahead of the 10pm curfew that pubs and restaurants are subject to in order to combat the rise in coronavirus cases

     

    'The drinks are on me but Public Health England are in charge of payment methodology so I will not be paying anything': Health Secretary Matt Hancock makes tasteless Covid test joke in Commons bar as he 'joined MPs flouting 10pm curfew

    By Brendan Carlin and Glen Owen for Mail On Sunday

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock was last night accused of breaking his own Covid curfew by drinking in a Commons bar beyond 10pm – where he made a crass joke about the Government's test and trace failings. 

    Mr Hancock arrived at the bar just before a 9.40pm vote, ordered a glass of white wine and announced: 'The drinks are on me – but Public Health England are in charge of the payment methodology so I will not be paying anything.' 

    His ill-conceived joke came after he had tried to explain to the Commons why the quango had lost nearly 16,000 positive coronavirus tests – a fiasco which Labour claimed had put 'lives at risk'. 

    A senior Tory MP told The Mail on Sunday that Mr Hancock remained in the Smoking Room bar until at least 10.25pm, despite Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle insisting that Commons venues must abide by the same 10pm drink-up-and-leave curfew as all English pubs. 

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) was last night accused of breaking his own Covid curfew by drinking in a Commons bar beyond 10pm – where he made a crass joke about the Government's test and trace failings

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) was last night accused of breaking his own Covid curfew by drinking in a Commons bar beyond 10pm – where he made a crass joke about the Government's test and trace failings

    In a carefully worded statement last night, a spokesman for the Health Secretary said: 'No rules have been broken. 

    'The Secretary of State was in the Smoking Room prior to the vote that evening. 

    'The Secretary of State left the Smoking Room to vote. The vote took place at 9:42pm. 'The Secretary of State then departed the Parliamentary estate to go home.' 

    Asked whether Mr Hancock had returned to the bar after voting and before he went home, the spokesman failed to respond. 

    The Health Secretary is seen as the leading pro-lockdown 'dove' in the Cabinet, enthusiastically backing the curfew measures. 

    Mr Hancock arrived at the bar just before a 9.40pm vote and ordered a glass of white wine

    Mr Hancock arrived at the bar just before a 9.40pm vote and ordered a glass of white wine

    This is increasingly angering 'hawks' such as Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who fear the lasting economic damage being caused by stringent Covid rules. 

    Other Tory MPs present in the Smoking Room on Monday have privately admitted still being in the room with drinks on their table after 10pm. 

    Last night, Charles Walker, the Tory MP overseeing Commons bars, promised an investigation into claims that the curfew was not being observed. Mr Walker, chairman of the Commons' Administration Committee, told The Mail on Sunday that he would now be 'talking to senior management within the catering department'. 

    He insisted it was up to fellow MPs to obey the rules, not rely on staff to tell them. But he added that if alcoholic drinks 'are being consumed in our bars after 10pm, then those instances need to stop'. 

    Last night the Health Secretary was under pressure to apologise over his 'tasteless' joke about Public Health England (PHE). 

    Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrats' Health spokesman, said: 'If these tasteless remarks are accurate, he must apologise. Matt Hancock has no shame. 

    'Thanks to his incompetence, we have a failing test-and-trace system which has left thousands mourning loved ones and millions worrying about their livelihoods as they face yet further lockdown measures. 

    'Instead of taking responsibility, he's making jokes at their expense and blaming everyone for his incompetence. The British public will not forget.' 

    Mr Hancock's spokesman declined to comment on the remark, which came just a few hours after the Minister faced a barrage of questions in the Commons over PHE's failure to report 15,841 positive coronavirus tests in England, and fears that it meant 50,000 potentially infectious people had failed to be reached by contract tracers. 

    Mr Hancock admitted the blunder 'should never have happened.' 

    A senior Tory MP told The Mail on Sunday that Mr Hancock remained in the Smoking Room bar (pictured) until at least 10.25pm, despite Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle insisting that Commons venues must abide by the same 10pm drink-up-and-leave curfew as all English pubs

    A senior Tory MP told The Mail on Sunday that Mr Hancock remained in the Smoking Room bar (pictured) until at least 10.25pm, despite Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle insisting that Commons venues must abide by the same 10pm drink-up-and-leave curfew as all English pubs

    The extraordinary allegations that he broke the curfew come as Boris Johnson faces a mounting Tory rebellion over the rules, which critics claim are ineffective and killing jobs and businesses without stopping the spread of the virus. 

    Sources say Mr Hancock joined about 20 other MPs in the Smoking Room on Monday evening, where he ordered a glass of French sauvignon blanc and made his joke. 

    One person present described how the Health Secretary, 'in trademark pantomime dame-style, cracked a gag about how he'd stand everybody a drink but as PHE was keeping a count, he'd never have to pay up. It did get quite a laugh.' 

    Mr Hancock left the room for a 9.42pm vote, but one person present claimed that Mr Hancock had later returned and stayed beyond 10pm. 

    Another, more junior, Minister ordered a bottle of wine at 9.59pm and stayed drinking it with colleagues, the source said. Mr Hancock is also said to have ordered a large glass of white wine not long before the bar shut at 10pm and then stayed on to drink it. 

    'He wasn't the only one – some people were still ordering bottles of wine right up to the deadline,' said one MP. 

    'However, it was extraordinary that at 10.25pm our Health Secretary – the man who maybe more than Boris himself has lectured the nation about respecting the Covid rules – was knocking back a glass of vino when out in the real world, drinkers and diners had been kicked out of pubs and restaurants across England. 

    'Everyone is panicking and trying to cover for Matt, but I know what I saw and I can tell the time.'

     

    Labour leaders in the North demand more cash handouts from the government to support lockdown and call new furlough scheme 'insufficient'  

    By Jack Wright and Luke Andrews for MailOnline

    Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called on MPs to 'reject' Rishi Sunak's new coronavirus bailout programme because it will lead to 'severe redundancies' across the North of England.

    The local Labour leader claimed the furlough-style scheme, which allows workers to claim two-thirds of their wages up to £2,100 if their workplaces are ordered to close, would 'surrender our residents to hardship in the run-up to Christmas and our businesses to potential failure'.

    Speaking at a press conference also attended by mayors from Liverpool and North Tyne, Mr Burnham added the scheme and further restrictions would cripple the local economy and cause the North to 'level down'.

    'To accept the Chancellor's package as outlined yesterday would be to surrender our residents to hardship in the run up to Christmas and our businesses to potential failure or collapse,' he said.

    'We are not prepared to do that. It will level down the north of England and widen the north-south divide.'

    His comments come as Boris Johnson is set to outline a new three-tiered system of restrictions on Monday with measures expected to see pubs and restaurants shut across the north of England.

    Under the three-tier system, different parts of the country would be placed in different categories, with areas in the highest level expected to face tough restrictions such as hospitality venues closing.

    However, local leaders urged the Government not to punish the North East with draconian lockdown restrictions as they claim the number of daily new coronavirus infections in the region has begun to fall. 

    Mr Sunak announced yesterday that workers in businesses which are forced to close under the new restrictions will have two thirds of their wages paid by the Government. In other coronavirus developments:

    Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said he expected his city to be in the highest category of restrictions. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he added: 'I do believe that the measures that will be introduced will be a lockdown of public houses from Wednesday within the city of Liverpool and beyond the city of Liverpool in terms of the whole region

    Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said he expected his city to be in the highest category of restrictions. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he added: 'I do believe that the measures that will be introduced will be a lockdown of public houses from Wednesday within the city of Liverpool and beyond the city of Liverpool in terms of the whole region

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that workers in businesses which are forced to close under the new restrictions will have two thirds of their wages paid by the Government

    Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced yesterday that workers in businesses which are forced to close under the new restrictions will have two thirds of their wages paid by the Government

    Mr Burnham said he was calling for cross-party support from MPs across the north for a vote in Parliament on the support proposals announced by the Chancellor.

    'I would not rule out a legal challenge,' he said.

    In an open letter published alongside the press conference the leaders added: 'We believe the Government should bring forward a separate vote on the financial package to provide an opportunity to reject the current financial package and requiring the Government to return with an improved package taking account of the important points we have raised.

    'We would ask that you use whatever routes might be open to you to bring about a vote in the House.'

    The letter is signed by Mr Burnham, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis, Mayor of North of Tyne Jamie Driscoll, and Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council.

    Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer was also critical of the business aid package and said there were gaps in it.

    Speaking at a Co-operative Party virtual conference he said: 'I think, though, that the Government has lost sight of the guiding principle, and the guiding principle should be that restrictions are always accompanied by appropriate economic support.

    'If that had been the principle throughout, we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in at the moment.'

    Earlier on Saturday, Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said he expected his city to be in the highest category of restrictions.

    Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he added: 'I do believe that the measures that will be introduced will be a lockdown of public houses from Wednesday within the city of Liverpool and beyond the city of Liverpool in terms of the whole region.

    'We do believe that there will be a concession to restaurants in terms of allowing restaurants to stay open until 10 o'clock.'

    Real estate adviser Altus Group has said there are 7,171 pubs in areas with restrictions across the north of England at risk of temporary closure.

    The Government’s new regime would see hospitality taking another hit as local restrictions would see pubs and bars in Merseyside and other parts of the North ordered to shut their doors. In a sign of official confusion, however, restaurants will be allowed to remain open until the curfew (pictured, a deserted Mathew Street in Liverpool city centre)

    The Government's new regime would see hospitality taking another hit as local restrictions would see pubs and bars in Merseyside and other parts of the North ordered to shut their doors. In a sign of official confusion, however, restaurants will be allowed to remain open until the curfew (pictured, a deserted Mathew Street in Liverpool city centre)

    Meanwhile, on Friday evening the leaders of West Yorkshire councils also warned another lockdown will have a 'devastating' effect on the town and city centres and regional economy.

    Evidence that pubs are a major source of Covid-19 transmission is 'very weak', economists claim as official PHE data shows only 5% of cases are linked to hospitality venues 

    The Government's assertion that 30 per cent of all coronavirus transmissions may be happening in pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants is based on 'very weak' evidence economists have said, after furious MPs accused ministers of 'cobbling together' the numbers to 'justify' their point of view.

    Experts from the Institute for Economic Affairs (IEA) rubbished the official claim, reminding ministers that data shows less than five per cent of those contacted by NHS Test and Trace had been in close contact with another person in a hospitality venue.

    They also pointed to the enforced closure of hospitality venues in Bolton and Leicester, saying it had failed to curb the spread of the disease. The latest Public Health England data reveals cases surged by 39 per cent in Bolton this week, with the rate rising to 250.6 per 100,000 people, and in Leicester they rose by 35 per cent to 120.2. 

    A business minister defended the Government's 'flimsy' data based on fewer than 100 pubs, saying he would have used the 'quite representative' sample size while working in the business sector.

    Nadhim Zahawi MP told LBC on Friday: 'I used to work in the serving industry and I can tell you when you do business surveys, 98 businesses, or 100 businesses, is actually quite a representative sample. If you're doing public opinions, 1,000 interviews is a representative sample. It's actually a pretty robust sampling.'

    And the Prime Minister's deputy spokesman dug his heels in claiming that hospitality venues account for the 'highest rates of common exposure to Covid-19, especially for those under 30 years old'. 

    His claim comes after enraged MPs slammed the Government for presenting the 'early analysis' figures to them, and criticised officials' decision to include a three-month-old American study from which they cherry-picked the figures to bolster their claims.

    Slides from Friday's press briefing led by Professor Chris Whitty - and published on Satuday after they were leaked - claimed food outlets and bars made up as much as 41 per cent of transmission among the under 30s. But this was in stark contrast to Public Health England's own data, which suggested only four per cent of Covid-19 outbreaks can be traced back to the venues.

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    In a joint letter to the Chancellor and health and housing secretaries on Friday, the leaders said 'significantly' more financial support was needed to prevent an even deeper economic catastrophe.

    They added: 'In a three-level approach, there must be significantly more support available to businesses in areas that are in either level two or level three to avoid an even deeper economic catastrophe.'

    Talks between the Government and local leaders are to continue over the weekend. 

    Landlords are furious with Boris Johnson's expected plans to order pubs to shut across northern England in a new coronavirus clampdown while restaurants can stay open until 10pm.

    The Government's new regime would see hospitality taking another hit as local restrictions would see pubs and bars in Merseyside and other parts of the North ordered to shut their doors. 

    In a sign of official confusion, however, restaurants will be allowed to remain open until the curfew.

    Similar measures are expected to be announced in Nottinghamshire as well as Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Newcastle, while the rules will be reviewed after a month. 

    Industry experts also denounced the package, with Greg Mulholland of the Campaign for Pubs saying: 'The level of support announced by the Chancellor is nowhere enough to compensate pubs being forced to close.

    'Many publicans will be forced into even more debt just to survive. There is real anger when pubs have been working hard to operate safely.' 

    Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, doubted whether locking down will have 'any material impact at all on transmission'.  

    'We do still have serious questions over the effectiveness such lockdowns will have in stopping the spread of the virus,' she said on Friday.

    'The latest Covid-19 surveillance report from PHE today shows just 30 incidents of Covid-19 were from hospitality settings. NHS Test and Trace numbers linked to pubs across the UK remain exceptionally low. 

    'Based on these insights we must ask why the Government isn't taking evidence-based, proportionate measures to tackle the virus?

    'It remains the case there is no hard evidence as yet to suggest that pubs, with their strict adherence to Government guidelines, are unsafe, making it unclear if local lockdowns, or indeed the 10pm curfew, will have any material impact at all on transmission.

    'The Government must review its measures on a regular basis and commit to removing them if they are found not to effectively reduce the spread of the virus.'   

    A further 13,864 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK were reported on Friday, and 87 more deaths were confirmed of people who died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus.

    Separate figures suggested coronavirus cases are doubling about twice as fast in the North West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands as for the whole of England.

    In North Wales, new coronavirus restrictions were being introduced in Bangor following a sharp rise in cases, the Welsh Government announced.

    From 6pm on Saturday, people were not allowed to enter or leave the area without a 'reasonable excuse' and could only meet people they do not live with outdoors, it said.

    Northern leaders write open letter to Government calling for lockdown financial support 

    Dear Colleague,

    LOCKDOWN FINANCIAL SUPPORT

    With the number of positive cases rising in most parts of the North, the health of our residents is paramount and we need to take whatever evidence-based measures are needed, so we understand why the Government is looking to clarify, simplify and possibly strengthen local restrictions in parts of the North.

    Yesterday, in meetings with civil servants, Mayors and local leaders were updated on the government's plans for restrictions in their areas. We welcome that and discussions with the Government on the final shape of restrictions for local areas are continuing throughout this weekend.

    However, we were also told that the financial package announced by the Chancellor on Friday afternoon was final and was not open for negotiation.

    We have great difficulties with that.

    Despite many requests, it has taken a long time for the Government to recognise that a proper support package for people and businesses affected by local restrictions would be needed.

    When it finally appeared late yesterday, it was not sufficient to protect our communities through the challenging period which lies ahead.

    Specifically, we cannot understand why people whose place of work is forced to close by Government imposed restrictions are only being offered two thirds of their wages. While it may be possible for people on middle or higher earnings to live on two thirds of their salary, that is not the case for the low-paid staff who work in hospitality. They do not have the luxury of being able to pay only two thirds of their rent or their bills.

    Earlier this year, the Government set its national furlough scheme at 80%. We can see no justifiable reason why the local furlough scheme should be set at 67%. To accept it would be to treat hospitality workers as second-class citizens and we think that is wrong. Many of these workers have already faced severe hardship this year.

    On top of this, the timetable for the introduction of the scheme also presents a major problem. It will start in early November which means that payments will not be made until early December, six weeks after businesses have been forced to close.

    We also have serious concerns that the local furlough scheme will be limited to businesses forced to shut. There are many other businesses who supply the hospitality sector who will see their own trade collapse if their customers are to close. In fact, the effect of restrictions might be to choke off footfall in many of our towns and cities and many more businesses and venues such as theatres, arenas and cinemas are likely to be impacted by new restrictions. We believe that any local furlough scheme should be much more widely available to businesses in areas with the highest level of restrictions who can demonstrate a severe impact on trade arising from them.

    In addition, we believe that financial support should be extended to those areas in Tier 2. Many businesses and individuals will be impacted by the proposed measures included in Tier 2, and indeed by limiting financial support to Tier 3 only, it could create a perverse incentive for areas to move into Tier 3 to support local businesses.

    It is also regrettable that there is no additional support on offer for people who are self-employed. Closure of hospitality businesses will have a severe knock-on effect on people working in the taxi trade and security. Many of those people are self-employed. We believe that there needs to be a local self-employment support scheme to recognise this.

    Finally, we are also worried that the more general business support package is woefully inadequate. Whilst we acknowledge the Chancellor's move in increasing the existing payment to businesses forced to close in lockdown areas, £3,000 per month – or less for many smaller businesses - may not be anything like enough to prevent businesses from collapsing after what has already been an extremely difficult year. Many are now on a knife-edge and this payment will not be enough to save them. Again, we fail to understand why a local lockdown does not attract a business support package equal to that provided during national lockdown given that the effect is the same. More broadly, tougher local restrictions will have an impact on businesses across the local economy and we believe that there is a strong case for a discretionary grant scheme under the control of local authorities to help them.

    And while the 'surge funding' for local authorities is welcome, only £80m is left in the pot to share between local authorities across the whole country. Councils across the North have already been hit by millions of pounds in extra costs and lost revenue, with only around a third of that being covered by central Government so far.

    For the reasons we have given above, to accept the Chancellor's package at this point would be to surrender our residents, your constituents, to severe hardship in the run-up to Christmas. We are not prepared to do that.

    It would also run the risk of significant redundancies and multiple business failures. That would cause long-term damage to the already fragile economies of large parts of Northern England and weaken the recovery when it finally comes. It would do the precise opposite of what the Government was elected to do and level down the North.

    So we are asking you to work with your Parliamentary colleagues on all sides of the House to seek to improve substantially the financial package on offer. We believe the Government should bring forward a separate vote on the financial package to provide an opportunity to reject the current financial package and requiring the Government to return with an improved package taking account of the important points we have raised. We would ask that you use whatever routes might be open to you to bring about a vote in the House.

    We are of course available at any time to speak to you at any point over the coming days.

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