COVID-19: PM confirms data on easing restrictions will be assessed before mid-February

Data on when coronavirus lockdown restrictions can start to be eased will be assessed before mid-February, the prime minister has said.

Boris Johnson said the government will be “looking at the potential of relaxing some measures” before the middle of next month.

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Speaking at a COVID-19 vaccination site at Barnet Football Club in north London, the PM said: “We’re looking at the data as it comes in, we’re looking at the rates of infection, as you know the JCVI [Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation] groups 1 to 4 [on the priority list] will be vaccinated by February 15.

“Before then we’ll be looking at the potential of relaxing some measures.

“But don’t forget this country has made huge progress in reducing infection, I don’t think people want to see another big surge in infection.”

After some confusion over whether this meant restrictions could be eased by the middle of next month, a Number 10 source told Sky News the PM meant the “looking at” restrictions will happen before then, not the relaxing of measures.

And speaking later at a Westminster briefing, his spokesman told journalists: “The prime minister was just making clear that, as I just said, we continue to look at the latest evidence in terms of the transmission of the virus, the number of people hospitalised, and the number of people who sadly go on to die.

“And he was making the point that ahead of February 15, which as you know is the review point, we will look at that evidence closely, and that will inform what we may or may not be able to ease from the 15th onwards.”

He added that ahead of 15 February, ministers would look at the latest evidence and data, though the 15th will be the “point where we review the national lockdown restrictions”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said at the weekend that any easing was a “long, long way” off.

Mr Johnson also said ministers were “definitely looking at” requiring travellers arriving into the UK to quarantine in hotels.

He said: “We have to realise there is at least the theoretical risk of a new variant that is a vaccine-busting variant coming in, we’ve got to be able to keep that under control.”

Mr Johnson added: “We want to make sure that we protect our population, protect this country against reinfection from abroad.

“That idea of looking at hotels is certainly one thing we’re actively now working on.

“We need a solution that gives us the maximum possible protection against reinfection from abroad.”

Last week, the government closed all UK travel corridors – which had allowed arrivals from some countries to avoid having to quarantine – until at least 15 February.

People coming to the UK from abroad also now have to show proof of a negative COVID test from up to 72 hours before their journey.

But the PM is reportedly under pressure from some members of his cabinet to go further and follow the examples of countries like Australia and New Zealand, which have mandatory quarantines.

Senior ministers are scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss the idea.

The PM declined to guarantee that all pupils will be back at school before Easter, but promised to tell parents and teachers “as much as we can as soon as we can”.

“Daily we’re looking at the data and trying to work out when we’re going to be able to lift restrictions,” he said.

“Schools obviously will be a priority but I don’t think anybody would want to see the restrictions lifted so quickly while the rate of infection is still very high so as to lead to another great spread of infection.”

Mr Johnson is coming under increasing pressure to get pupils back in the classroom, including from a number of Conservative MPs.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is expected to confirm this week that pupils will not return after the February half-term as had been hoped when England’s third lockdown was announced earlier this month.

(c) Sky News 2021: COVID-19: PM confirms data on easing restrictions will be assessed before mid-February