PM: “by adopting those measures we prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half a million fatalities”
PM: “madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike.
We must stay alert.... we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life.”
We must stay alert.... we must also recognise that this campaign against the virus has come at colossal cost to our way of life.”
PM calls it: “the shape of a plan to address both fears [health and economic].
Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society.”
Both to beat the virus and provide the first sketch of a road map for reopening society.”
PM: “no, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week.
Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.
And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week...”
Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.
And the first step is a change of emphasis that we hope that people will act on this week...”
*** What PM calls his “Change of emphasis”:
FROM: “you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must.”
TO: “anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.”
FROM: “you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must.”
TO: “anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.”
... BUT: “avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.”
5 and 6 year olds back to school as well as Year 6 after half term: “at earliest by June 1 – after half term –we believe we may be in a position to begin phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6”
“earliest by July - and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice; if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to re-open at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.”
PM: “Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity... driven by data, science and health”...
No date on quarantine announced: PM: “I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.”
As elsewhere, if infection increases, brakes put back on again: PM: “if there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes.
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous.”
We have been through the initial peak – but it is coming down the mountain that is often more dangerous.”
