Covid: Boris Johnson warns ‘your cough could be someone’s death knell’.

Coronavirus latest - BORIS Johnson tonight warned the nation "your cough could be someone else's death knell" as he begged the country to pull together to defeat the virus.

The United Kingdom has reached “a perilous turning point” in its struggle to contain coronavirus according to Boris Johnson.

The prime minister has set out a series of new restrictions for England with a warning that they could be in place for 6 months. He said that “significantly greater restrictions” will be brought in if cases continue to rise sharply.

The PM urged Brits to show "discipline, resolve, and the spirit of togetherness" to get Britain through the "difficult" winter months to come - or face a new national lockdown.

In a live TV address - only the third time he has spoken to the nation in a recorded broadcast during the pandemic - he reassured the public that there "are great days ahead" once the fight against covid is over.

And it was only by working together collectively would the current soaring rate of infections start to come down.

In a message of hope he said: "I am more certain than ever that this is a struggle that humanity will win, and we in this country will win."

However, for the first time he entertained the possibility of a "tougher" new national lockdown and what it would mean for the country, just weeks after he lifted restrictions.

Mr Johnson warned the nation that he would have no choice but to impose “significantly greater restrictions” later this year if the new measures fail to bring the ‘R’ value of the virus below 1.

The fight against covid is by no means over, he said.

He warned it would threaten the shutting down of schools once again - something he has said he never wants to do.

And it would see millions of older and vulnerable people face crippling loneliness once again.

The PM told the nation: "If we were forced into a new national lockdown, that would threaten not just jobs and livelihoods but the loving human contact on which we all depend.

"We must do all we can to avoid going down that road again.

"But if people don’t follow the rules we have set out, then we must reserve the right to go further."

Never before has the destiny of the nation relied so "completely on our individual behaviour", he said.

We risk "many more deaths" if we don't act now, he stressed.

But "if we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together", he said.

He announced this afternoon new rules for England - but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will take similar steps. The plans include:

A 10pm curfew for all pubs and hospitality venues will come in from Thursday - where doors will have to be closed

And they will have to offer table service only - except for takeaway deliveries which can continue

Tougher enforcement powers for shutting down venues which don't force people to stay apart

The military could be called in by police to help enforce the new rules

People should work from home if they can - or if their workplace isn't Covid-safe but MPs will stay in Parliament

Weddings are going to be slashed back from 30 down to 15 - but funerals will stay on the same rules

Facemasks will be made compulsory for staff in hospitality and close contact places - and taxis too

Team sports will be curbed inside, banning five-aside footie and other games

The return to live sport planned for October 1 now will not go ahead

Businesses will have a legal requirement to enforce the rule of six

The fines will DOUBLE for not wearing face masks to £200

As announced at the weekend, there will be fines for Brits who defy orders to isolate

The nation is now "better prepared" with PPE, extra beds, the Nightingale hospitals and new medicines, all of which will help save lives, Boris stressed tonight.

But he added: "There are unquestionably difficult months to come."

Read more

Boris Johnson urges Brits to pull together to avoid 2nd lockdown as he warns ‘your cough could be someone’s death knell’

www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/12740778/boris-johnson-live-tv-address-coronavirus/

By next year he hoped the "dream" of a vaccine and mass testing could mean a return to a more ordinary life.

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