‘Hands, Face, Space’; it’s in our hands to avoid second lockdown – The Yorkshire Post says

HOW ironic that Boris Johnson will have been taken more seriously at his Downing Street press conference because he was flanked by Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Martin Vallance, his chief medical and scientific officers.
By YP Comment
Published 10th Sep 2020, 05:49 BST
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a virtual press conference at Downing Street, London, following the announcement that the legal limit on social gatherings is set to be reduced from 30 people to six. The change in the law in England will come into force on Monday as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a virtual press conference at Downing Street, London, following the announcement that the legal limit on social gatherings is set to be reduced from 30 people to six. The change in the law in England will come into force on Monday as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a virtual press conference at Downing Street, London, following the announcement that the legal limit on social gatherings is set to be reduced from 30 people to six. The change in the law in England will come into force on Monday as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.

World-leading civil servants who command the public’s respect, their presence, and explanation of the latest Covid-19 data, re-enforced the need for the country to act immediately.

And while the Government’s relationship with so many senior officials continues to be an uneasy one, the number one priority is trying to avoid a second nationwide lockdown, hence limiting social gatherings to six people while trying to keep schools, universities and offices open if there’s no discernible threat to health.

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As the Prime Minister said: “These measures are not another lockdown; the whole point is to avoid a second national lockdown.”

Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Witty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a virtual press conference at Downing Street, London, following the announcement that the legal limit on social gatherings is set to be reduced from 30 people to six. The change in the law in England will come into force on Monday as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Witty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a virtual press conference at Downing Street, London, following the announcement that the legal limit on social gatherings is set to be reduced from 30 people to six. The change in the law in England will come into force on Monday as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Witty, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance during a virtual press conference at Downing Street, London, following the announcement that the legal limit on social gatherings is set to be reduced from 30 people to six. The change in the law in England will come into force on Monday as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.

In this respect, Mr Johnson’s clear warning and three-word mantra – ‘Hands, Face, Space’ – represents a return to the clarity of purpose used during the early phase of the pandemic to limit the spread of the virus.

It will certainly help the police, and environmental health officers, with the enforcement of new measures. The question is whether they have the necessary resources and if the country is in a position to carry out sufficient tests, an issue open to continuing conjecture.

And though this announcement will disappoint those who hoped to see the further opening up of the economy, it has to be heeded if the recent rise in Covid cases, particularly amongst younger people, is to be curtailed. It’s in our hands – literally.

Related topics:Boris JohnsonChris WhittyDowning StreetYorkshire PostGovernmentPrime Minister

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