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The government “should be able” to begin easing the coronavirus lockdown in England in March, a senior minister told Sky News.
Michael Gove said that the public should not expect a sudden relaxation of the COVID-19 rules, with “progressively” relaxed restrictions in place.
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‘Stay home’: New lockdown for England
And he warned that “very, very difficult weeks” lie ahead as the country struggles to reduce the spread of coronavirus, which is being driven by a new variant that has been deemed 50% to 70% more transmissible.
As vaccines continue to be released, the country is in a “race against time” against the variant, Gove added.
He acknowledged that the government’s new goal of delivering a COVID-19 hit to nearly 14 million people in the top four priority groups by mid-February was “stretch,” but stressed that it was doable.
When asked how long the shutdown could last, the Cabinet Office minister said ministers would “review the progress we have made” on February 15.
He added: “We hope we can progressively lift the restrictions after that, but what I can’t do is predict – no one can predict – precisely exactly what we will be able to relax and when.”
“What we do know is that the more effective our vaccination program is, the more people are protected in this way, the easier it will be to remove these restrictions.”
Pressed again on a time frame to ease the restrictions, Mr. Gove said: “We will keep them constantly under review, but you are absolutely right, we cannot predict with certainty that we will be able to lift the restrictions in the week starting 15-22. February “. .
“What we will do is everything we can to make sure that as many people as possible are vaccinated, so that we can begin to progressively lift the restrictions.
“I think it’s correct to say that when we go into March we should be able to lift some of these restrictions, but not necessarily all of them.”
I was talking after Boris Johnson introduced a third national shutdown in England, people were told to “stay home” as they did during the first shutdown last March.
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How was the last lock received?
The prime minister revealed the action in an eight-minute television address on Monday night, after being told that COVID-19 cases are increasing rapidly in all parts of the country due to the new variant.
As of Monday, there were 26,626 COVID patients in the England hospital, an increase of more than 30% in a week and now more than 40% more than the peak of the first wave of infections last April.
There has also been a close to 25% increase in the number of deaths in the last seven days, compared to the previous week.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer told Sky News that he has some “disputes and criticism” with the government over the latest shutdown, but added that “everyone recognizes how serious this is.”
“This is a time when we all have to say that we will support the restrictions and do what we can to make them work,” he said.
Sir Keir said he had “doubts” about the vaccination target outlined by the prime minister, adding: “This is a race against time. I want the government to succeed … and I will offer my support.”
Johnson also announced Monday that all elementary schools, high schools and universities are closed except for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.
Mr. Gove said Education Secretary Gavin Williamson would brief deputies Wednesday on how students will be assessed at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced grants totaling £ 4.6 billion to help companies in difficulty.
In Scotland, a shutdown for the vast majority of the country went into effect at midnight.
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Scotland will go into lockdown for the rest of the month
Deputy Prime Minister John Swinney told Sky News that the measures will be in place for a “substantial period.”
“We had to take these measures, we are very sorry to have had to take these measures … but it is the right thing to do to protect the public,” he said.
The government in Welsh announced that all schools and universities will move to online learning until January 18.
North Ireland Prime Minister Arlene Foster, who imposed a six-week lockdown since Boxing Day, said Monday night that the “stay home” instruction would now become law, with an update on schools on Tuesday.
