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The cabinet expects Boris Johnson to return to make decisive decisions to block the coronavirus amid warnings that GDP will collapse by 30 percent this quarter.
Divisions have arisen in the prime minister’s top team over how soon draconian brakes should be eased as they destroy the economy.
Government sources say there is a ‘zero’ chance that the restrictions will be lifted in a formal review this week, but some ministers want to start moving into a new phase early next month, while others prefer to delay weeks more.
The implications of the moment have been highlighted with Chancellor Rishi Sunak warning that UK plc could shrink by 25-30 percent in the coming months, costing millions of jobs.
However, it is likely that much will depend on the situation in Italy and Spain, which appear to have passed the peaks of their outbreaks and are beginning to loosen their blockades.
The cabinet hopes Boris Johnson (pictured giving a heartfelt thanks to the NHS yesterday) will return to make decisive decisions to block the coronavirus.
The implications of the moment have been highlighted with Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured in Whitehall last week) warning that the UK plc could be reduced by 25-30 percent in the coming months.
Johnson is recovering from the coronavirus at Checkers after admitting that his fate could have been “either way.”
The prime minister spent a week at St Thomas’ hospital in central London, including three nights in intensive care, but yesterday he left to meet with pregnant fiancé Carrie Symonds.
He is now convalescing at the field residence in Buckinghamshire after doctors ordered the Conservative leader to rest.
Number 10 has confirmed that the Prime Minister “will not return to work immediately” after his discharge.
But cabinet sources told the Telegraph that Mr. Johnson should sign the main moves in the shutdown. ‘The prime minister has to make that decision. Any blockade will have major implications, and the prime minister will be responsible for it, so he must be the one to make the decision, ” they said.
A veteran MP Tory added: ‘It should absolutely be Boris. He is the captain of the ship. It has to be someone who has the trust of the nation. ‘
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking yesterday at the Downing Street briefing, said there was no advice on how long Johnson should rest before returning to work.
“That will be a clinical decision that his doctors will make with him,” he said.
“The government is operating perfectly efficiently within the strategy it established.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is “delegating” to the prime minister as the government faces another crucial week.
In an emotional speech posted on social media after his discharge from the hospital, Johnson admitted that his condition “could have gone either way” and thanked NHS staff for saving his life.
Tory’s former chief communications officer, Symonds, joined in praising the ‘amazing’ staff who treated her future husband, and tweeted that she ‘could never, could never pay him.’
Johnson called the NHS “unconquerable” after seeing first-hand how he was coping with the pandemic and announced the “personal courage” of everyone from doctors to cooks in St. Thomas.
He added: ‘We will win because our NHS is the heart of this country.
‘It is the best of this country. It is invincible It is driven by love.
His comments came when it was confirmed that the number of people who had died in UK hospitals after hiring Covid-19 had breached the 10,000 mark.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that the UK seemed to have one of the worst ‘if not the worst’ death rates in Europe.
The formal review of the stringent social distancing measures is due, required by the emergency powers legislation, is scheduled to be reviewed by ministers on Thursday.
Downing Street has said it will only seek to lift the restrictions once scientific and medical advisers recommend doing so.
But pressure is mounting to change course soon, he said Sunak is estimating a massive impact on the economy.
Prime Minister is recovering from Coronavirus at Checkers with his pregnant partner Carrie Symonds
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking yesterday at the Downing Street briefing, said there was no advice on how long Johnson should rest before returning to work.
The group of experts from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) suggested last week that 25 percent of the UK economy could be lost in the summer due to current controls.
According to the Times, Sunak told colleagues that the consequences could be even worse if GDP fell by a third in the second quarter.
Sunak is said to be among a group of cabinet ‘hawks’, which also includes education secretary Gavin Williamson and home secretary Priti Patel, who want the closure to be alleviated more quickly. However, other ‘pigeons’ like Hancock and Michael Gove are apparently warning against lifting the restrictions too soon.
A government source said there were no “table knocks,” but added about Williamson: “He is secretary of education; of course, he would prefer that the schools were open.” But it is not your choice. He is concerned about all the children and how they are going to do it. There is no replacement for children who attend classes under the supervision of teachers who know them.
“However, schools will only open when it is safe to do so.”
Last night Hancock announced a new NHS coronavirus application that the government hopes will help stop the spread of the virus by helping people isolate themselves before they begin to show symptoms as the government seeks to find a way to get out of the lock.
He said: ‘If you are not feeling well with coronavirus symptoms, you can safely tell this new NHS app and the app will send anonymous alert to other users of the app you have been in contact with for the past few days ‘.
Opposition parties, including Labor and Liberal Democrats, have called for parliamentary scrutiny of the use of data.
On Sunday, the Health Department said that as of 5pm Saturday, a total of 10,612 patients had died in UK hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus, an increase of 737 from 9,875 the day before.
Europe returns to work: millions of Spaniards can resume their jobs after the industrial closure is lifted
Europe is starting to go back to work today when factories and construction sites reopen in Spain, while Italy takes its first steps to ease the blockade.
Police were handing out masks on Spanish subway trains today, as some ‘nonessential’ workers were allowed to resume their activities after a two-week ban.
Italy will allow bookstores, stationeries and shops selling children’s clothing to reopen tomorrow in the first release of the longest running in Europe, although most restrictions have been extended until May.
Meanwhile in Denmark, schools and kindergartens will reopen on Wednesday, which will allow some parents to return to work.
Passengers keep their distance in the Madrid metro, as nonessential workers can return to work today
Spain is lifting its ban on non-essential business despite concerns from some regional leaders and unions.
The ban was tighter than in Britain, where people can still go to work if they can’t work from home during the shutdown.
People returning today include healthcare, security and telecommunications workers, customs officials, and those involved in the supply of gas and electricity.
They and their companies must comply with strict regulations to ensure that they do not become infected with the virus.
Non-essential workers had been sent home on March 30, but the Spanish government has not extended the measure despite an increase in new deaths yesterday.
A further 619 deaths were announced Sunday, 109 more than Saturday, ending three days of declining deaths.
It brought the country’s death toll from coronavirus to 16,972, the third highest in the world after the United States and Italy.
