PM Boris Johnson urges UK to stick with lockdown

[Gimme More 35,802]

The Prime Minister said the nation is starting to "wrestle" the "invisible mugger" that is Covid-19 "to the floor" - adding: "We are beginning to turn the tide".

But he shot down claims he would spell out an exit plan as early as this week - saying now is the time of "maximum risk".

Mr Johnson said social distancing must go on, otherwise the nation would risk "not only a new wave of death and disease, but also an economic disaster".

That, he said, would force the UK to "slam on the brakes" with a nationwide second lockdown.

He added: "I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS."

Today's surprise statement was his first public appearance outside 10 Downing Street for almost a month - and his first public appearance of any kind for around two weeks.

Mr Johnson claimed the UK has managed to have "apparent success" despite more than 20,000 deaths in hospital - and many more in care homes and other places around the country.

The death toll is one of the highest of any country in the world.

But "we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict," Mr Johnson claimed - thanks to the "forbearance, good sense, altruism, and spirit of community" of the British people.

He said the UK was "making progress" with "real signs now that we are passing through the peak", and did not run out of ventilators or intensive care beds.

Mr Johnson claimed the UK has managed to have "apparent success" despite more than 20,000 deaths in hospital - and many more in care homes and other places around the country.

The death toll is one of the highest of any country in the world.

But "we are coming now to the end of the first phase of this conflict," Mr Johnson claimed - thanks to the "forbearance, good sense, altruism, and spirit of community" of the British people.

He said the UK was "making progress" with "real signs now that we are passing through the peak", and did not run out of ventilators or intensive care beds.

The law says he must formally review the lockdown by May 7, next Thursday, with some reports today suggesting he could move sooner.

Mr Johnson indicated there will be some kind of announcement this week, saying: "The government will be saying much more about this in the coming days."

But officials have made clear the lockdown will not simply end - when it is eased, it will only be relaxed in some ways and not others.

And today Mr Johnson said it can only be eased "when we’re sure this first phase is over" and the UK is meeting its five tests for easing the lockdown. They are:

The NHS is able to cope

A sustained fall in deaths

New infections dropping enough

Adequate testing and PPE

No risk of a second peak

He told firms "I understand your impatience, I share your anxiety" - adding without the private sector “there will be no economy to speak of" and no funding for the NHS.

But he added: "If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger, which I can tell you from personal experience it is, then this is the moment when we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor.

"And so it follows that this is the moment of opportunity. This is the moment when we can press home our advantage.

"It is also the moment of maximum risk because I know there will be many people looking now at our apparent success and beginning to wonder whether now is the time to go easy on those social distancing measures."

The Prime Minister gave his eight-and-a-half-minute unscheduled message after he arrived back in Downing Street last night - three weeks after he entered St Thomas' Hospital in London.

[Jase 13,417]

Here's hoping people pay attention.

It'll be interesting to see what happens May 7th in regards to any parts of the lockdown potentially being laxed. 

[Mister G 10,512]

Wow amazing how his attitude completely shifted after he got sick from it and ended up in intensive care. If only he could get Trump to do the same thing here in the US.

[TEMPLE 1,358]

11 minutes ago, Jase said:

Here's hoping people pay attention.

It'll be interesting to see what happens May 7th in regards to any parts of the lockdown potentially being laxed. 

I don't think it will tbh, if so then very small. We're still getting a sizeable number of cases a day, they're really not flattening off. I think they'll start relaxing them once the cases really start dropping and flatting off a lot. Even then I don't think it should, primarily because we're going to need a good three weeks of having practically no/containable amount of cases to be certain.

[lodylody 1,790]

I like how strong he is being with this. He seems very firm and carries an air of seriousness about him (how, given his track record, I have no clue).

Also excited to see the back of the Tory showcase that happened while he was away  

[Jase 13,417]

2 minutes ago, TEMPLE said:

I don't think it will tbh, if so then very small. We're still getting a sizeable number of cases a day, they're really not flattening off. I think they'll start relaxing them once the cases really start dropping and flatting off a lot. Even then I don't think it should, primarily because we're going to need a good three weeks of having practically no/containable amount of cases to be certain.

I get the sense now that people are really clamouring for some kind of relaxation of the lockdown so I'm kinda worried about what'll happen if BJ extends things and we head into the beginning of June as we are now. I'm personally all for keeping things as they are at the minute for the foreseeable tbh!

[ShayCristoforo 10,607]

You need to take this VERY seriously in order for people to actually listen.

As soon as someone important says it's gotten better... People are gonna be making out and licking subway poles in no time. 

[Hydrangea 7,886]

Here’s to another 6 months in lockdown wooo!! I barely ever went out anyway tbh so throw isn’t so bad but god I miss seeing my partner. I hope the U.K. can get a grip on this. We still have issues with tests and PPE so I don’t have any faith in the short term 

[Helxig 45,336]

37 minutes ago, lodylody said:

I like how strong he is being with this. He seems very firm and carries an air of seriousness about him (how, given his track record, I have no clue).

Also excited to see the back of the Tory showcase that happened while he was away  

He got the virus himself and almost died   of course he's finally taking it seriously

[lodylody 1,790]

Just now, Helxig said:

He got the virus himself and almost died   of course he's finally taking it seriously

That doesn't mean he's definitely going to take it seriously. Making such an outright equivalence is quite naive.

Especially when you're talking about the leader of a party who prides itself on a mentality that focuses very much on caring for oneself and little else  

[BUtterfield 8 41,818]

I love how Boris is only taking this seriously bc he actually got it

 

[audrey horne 1,180]

Nothing beats a trip to the hospital to restore some sight. 

[Leblanc 2,494]

1 hour ago, Mister G said:

Wow amazing how his attitude completely shifted after he got sick from it and ended up in intensive care. If only he could get Trump to do the same thing here in the US.

No it didn't lmao. It appears multiple people just believe whatever they want.

While you can criticise his approach, that's fine, creating this narrative that he only gave a **** after he caught it is pure nonsense.

[Mister G 10,512]

1 minute ago, Qiyana said:

No it didn't lmao.

That would be the dumbest approach if he chooses to backpedal and not take it seriously. Then again, it wouldn’t be a surprise. 

[Randomperson 1,271]

I don’t know about the rest of the uk but where I live more people have been walking past my house since lockdown started than ever before. I also see groups of teenagers walking around like nothing’s happening People aren't taking it seriously.