Boris Johnson considering two-week national lockdown over half term in yet another U-turn

Boris Johnson could be introducing a two-week national lockdown in a bid to save thousands of lives, according to the government’s advising scientists.

According to calculations from the scientists advising the government, a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown could save thousands of lives before the end of the year.

According to reports, decisions are set to be made before the end of next week, in time for the half-term school holiday. Sources are saying the likelihood of the decision being yet another U-turn from the government is ‘at least 80%’, Examiner Live reports. 

The Prime Minister is facing calls to introduce a two-week lockdown across England to bring the coronavirus resurgence under control. 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the two-week national lockdown over October half term is needed to prevent a ‘sleepwalk into a long and bleak winter’.

A Tory MP told the Express that October half-term is an ‘obvious time’ for a clampdown and that a ‘circuit breaker’ has not been taken off the table. 

SAGE reportedly calculated that 7,000 lives could be saved if schools close and people stay at home from October 24th for two weeks. 

The Times suggested that the model could cut hospital admissions from 132,400 to 66,500 and coronavirus deaths for the rest of the year from 19,900 to 12,100. If schools and shops remain open, the death toll would be cut to 15,600.

The paper, set to be published at some point today, is put together by Professor Graham Medley plus other members of the Government’s Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling.

They note that there is ‘no good epidemiological reasons to delay the break’.

The news comes after Sir Keir spoke on a televised press conference, saying that Boris Johnson was no longer following scientific advice by proposing less stringent restrictions than those suggested to the government by SAGE scientists.

54% of people surveyed by YouGov felt that the government should have introduced a national lockdown in September. 28% disagreed. 

According to reports, Boris Johnson dismissed a recommendation for a circuit-breaker suggested by SAGE to the government three weeks ago. Instead, he put in place the three-tier local alert levels.

As of Tuesday, the UK recorded the highest daily death figure in four months. 143 people died within 28 days of testing positive of Covid-19.

Labour leader Sir Keir told reporters on Tuesday: “There’s no longer time to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt. The Government’s plan simply isn’t working. Another course is needed.”