UK lockdown extended for three weeks as Dominic Raab says 'the worst thing we could do is to ease up too soon'

Dominic Raab confirmed three-week extension to the coronavirus lockdown at today's Downing Street press briefing.
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Britain's coronavirus lockdown has been extended until early May, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab confirmed at the daily Downing Street press briefing today (April 16).

Mr Raab, who has been standing in for Boris Johnson while he recovers at Chequers, lead emergency COBRA committee and cabinet meetings about the continuation of social distancing measures this afternoon.

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During tonight's news conference, Mr Raab explained "our action plan aims to slow the spread of coronavirus so that fewer people need hospital treatment at any one time."

Dominic Raab has confirmed a three-week extension to the coronavirus lockdown. (Credit: PA)Dominic Raab has confirmed a three-week extension to the coronavirus lockdown. (Credit: PA)
Dominic Raab has confirmed a three-week extension to the coronavirus lockdown. (Credit: PA)

He said: "The advice from Sage is that relaxing any of the measures currently in place would risk damage to both public health and our economy.

"Based on this advice, which we very carefully considered, the government has decided that the current measures must remain in place for at least the next three weeks."

He said SAGE had advised that "relaxing any of the measures in place" would "undo the progress we have made" and would "risk damage to both public health and the economy".

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"The worst thing that we could do now is ease up too soon - and allow a second peak of the virus to hit the NHS and to hit the British people," he added.

Ministers are required by law to assess whether the rules are working, based on expert advice, every three weeks.

However, there were early signs the lockdown would be extended despite signs the epidemic in the UK may be beginning to peak.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there could be no "let up" in the efforts to curb the spread of the virus during yesterdays (April 15) press briefing.

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"We cannot let go of the hard work that's been done so far,” he said.

"This shared sacrifice is starting to work but we will not lift these measures until it is safe to do so.

"Everyone who stays at home is doing their bit."

Mr Raab had also previously warned that it was still too soon for ministers to begin lifting the social distancing rules which were introduced on March 23.

"We don't expect to make any changes to measures at that point, and we won't until we are confident, as confident as we can be, that changes can be safely made," he said.

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Labour said it would support an extension, but called for details on how and when the lockdown would end.

As of today, the Department of Health announced 103,093 people had tested positive for Covid-19.

The number of coronavirus patients who have died in UK hospitals has risen to 13,729 after another 861 deaths.

The UK's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, has warned due to delays in reporting deaths over the Easter weekend, there may be a possible "bounce" in the numbers soon.

He said while the UK was "probably" reaching the peak of its epidemic, the high numbers of deaths were expected to continue for a "short while" longer.

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