Lockdown: David Davis suggests restrictions will end ‘in April’
Boris Johnson told the British public they should start following the new coronavirus restrictions immediately, despite the rules not becoming law until Wednesday. Speaking from Downing Street the Prime Minister said everyone will be asked to stay at home except for five “reasonable excuses”, including shopping for food or medicine, to seek medical care, go to work if you cannot do so from home and one form of daily exercise.
Mr Johnson has not given a definitive end date for the new national lockdown, but the current plan is to return to the regional tier system from mid-February.
In response to the new restrictions, Express.co.uk is asking if you agree with the return to a full lockdown?
As part of the fresh restrictions, all schools in England have closed again, as they did during the first national lockdown which was introduced last March.
Schools will stay open for the vulnerable and the children of key workers but all other pupils have shifted to home-learning.
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Lockdown news: Do you agree with the return to a full lockdown? (Image: Getty)
Boris Johnson plunged England into its third national lockdown on Monday night (Image: Getty)
The decision came a day after the Prime Minister insisted schools were safe and urged parents to send primary-age children back to school on Monday.
But during his televised announcement on Monday evening, Mr Johnson said: “Parents whose children were in school today may reasonably ask ‘why we did not take this decision sooner?’
“And the answer is simply that we’ve been doing everything in our power to keep the schools open because we know how important each day in education is to children’s life chances.”
He stressed that schools were safe but they “act as vectors for transmission”, causing the virus to spread between households.
But do you back the Government’s decision to shut schools again and return to virtual lessons?
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Mr Johnson said that as schools were closing, the Government would have to rethink the summer exam schedule.
He said: “We recognise that this will mean it’s not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer, as normal.”
But do you think this is the right call and should this summer’s exams go ahead as planned?
Cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Tuesday the Department for Education was in talks with Ofqual to find the “the best and most effective way” to assess students after the chaos that ensued last summer when pupils were awarded grades based on an algorithm.
After widespread protests, the Government swiftly re-issue grades based on teacher predictions and past attainment.
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Lockdown news: School students have returned to virtual learning (Image: Getty)
Boris Johnson told the British public they should start following the new coronavirus restrictions immediately (Image: Getty)
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson will make a statement about alternative assessments on Wednesday.
During Monday night’s announcement, Mr Johnson outlined the rest of the new lockdown rules.
These include keeping nurseries, parks and playgrounds open, letting elite sport such as the Premier League continue and banning pubs from serving takeaway pints.
The Government has also instructed outdoor gyms and pools to shut and told university students to stay where they are and study virtually until mid-February.
Funerals are still allowed to go ahead with up to 30 people, while weddings are only permitted in exceptional circumstances.
Lockdown news: What are the key points? (Image: Express)
Places of worship will remain open for services and individual prayer.
If an individual over the age of 18 is caught breaking the new restrictions in England from Wednesday, police will have the power to fine people £200 for their first offence.
This is lowered to £100 if paid within 14 days.
The fine then will then increase to £400 for a second offence and doubles for each further offence up to a maximum of £6,400.
In response, Express.co.uk is asking if you think the £200 fine for a first offence is too much, not enough or about right?
