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Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting on Tuesday ahead of a statement on next steps to address the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes on a day when the prime minister will also chair the cabinet, and is expected to announce new measures designed to curb the number of COVID-19 Infections
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Before this, Johnson will also discuss the coronavirus reply with the prime ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland later on Monday.
“One thing it will do is reiterate its commitment to working together with delegated administrations as one UK in response to the rising infection rates we are seeing in the UK,” the prime minister’s spokesman said.
On Monday, the government’s top scientific adviser earlier said at a Downing Street briefing that the UK you could soon see 49,000 new cases every day unless steps are taken to reduce the current rate of infection.
Johnson has said he does not want to put the country in a second national lockdown, but Downing Street is understood to be looking to introduce temporary restrictions at the national level to try to “short-circuit” the virus.
Government figures have emphasized that the plans being drawn up fall short of the full national shutdown that was introduced in March.
Proposals being crafted could see essential trips to schools and workplaces continue, but restaurants and bars will close, or perhaps operate on restricted hours, and different households will be told not to mix at all.
The restrictions could be in place for two weeks, but the timing and duration of the measures have yet to be defined.
There has been speculation that such a shutdown will take place during the October school semester.
Johnson and top ministers were briefed by England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, Senior Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Treasury Senior Economic Adviser Clare Lombardelli over the weekend.
“The prime minister has been engaged with the cabinet throughout this process. The cabinet received a detailed report from the government’s top medical, scientific and economic advisers over the weekend,” his spokesman said.
“The prime minister will work with his colleagues to ensure that we respond in the most effective way to try to control the spread of the virus and save lives.”
