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Grandparents and others who provide informal child care will be exempted from coronavirus rules in local lockdown areas in England, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Mr. Hancock acknowledged “concerns” about the impact of local lockdowns on families’ child care arrangements.
A series of new COVID-19 The restrictions will take effect in many parts of England from Tuesday, including in the North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire.
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Last week local restrictions were imposed on the Northeast, which means that millions of people in England already live, or will soon live, under local measures.
In most of these areas, people are told not to socialize with other people outside of their own homes, or support the bubble, in private homes and gardens.
But now there will be a waiver for care reasons, Hancock told deputies.
“I have heard concerns about the impact of local action on child care arrangements,” he said.
“For many, informal child care arrangements are a lifeline without which they could not do their job.
“Today I can announce a new exemption for the care of children under 14 years of age, or vulnerable adults, when necessary for care reasons.
“This covers both formal and informal arrangements.
“It doesn’t allow play dates or parties, but it does mean that a constant babysitting relationship is allowed that is vital to getting someone to work.”
Hancock added that he hopes the change will bring “clarity and comfort to many people living with these local restrictions.”
The Health Secretary also used his statement to MPs to confirm how coronavirus testing is now prioritized, after the government’s testing program came under heavy criticism amid widespread reports of shortages in many areas.
Ministers have pointed to the rapidly increasing demand for evidence as the culprit for the problems.
Hancock said testing would be prioritized first for hospital patients, second for nursing homes, third for NHS staff including GPs and pharmacists, fourth for specific tests to monitor and control outbreaks, fifth for teachers with COVID-19 symptoms and then for the general public. with symptoms, prioritizing those in areas where there are more infections.
“The system depends on people presenting themselves for testing if and only if they have symptoms of coronavirus or if a health professional has specifically recommended it to them,” the health secretary told deputies.
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Earlier Monday, the government’s top science adviser warned that the UK could see around 50,000 COVID-19 cases per day mid-October if current infection rates continue.
Sir Patrick Vallance, speaking in a televised address from Downing Street, said such a situation could subsequently lead to 200 or more deaths per day in mid-November.
Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, told the public that the country should prepare for a harsh winter, and colder weather is expected to worsen the impact of the coronavirus.
“We should see this as a six-month problem that we have to deal with collectively, it is not indefinite,” he said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was scheduled to hold calls on Monday afternoon with Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford, Northern Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster and Northern Ireland Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill.
He will then chair an emergency meeting of the government. COBRA Committee on Tuesday, as well as a meeting of his cabinet, and make a statement to MPs in the House of Commons.
The prime minister spent the weekend with high-level ministers and advisers discussing what steps should be taken next in the UK’s response to the coronavirus.
Johnson on Friday admitted that a “second wave” was coming and, when asked about the possibility of new national restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19, said the government may need to “step up things to help improve the infections down. “
