Dominic Raab is leading today’s coronavirus daily press briefing
Dominic Raab has started today’s press conference by saying that the Prime Minister is in ‘good spirits’ after spending a night in hospital, he then said that 17,911 people have now been admitted to hospital with coronavirus.
Raab is also joined by the deputy chief scientific officer, Professor Angela McClean.
Raab: We’re helping British citizens get back from around the world
Mr Raab said the Foreign Office is helping to source ventilators from around the world.
It is also trying to get British citizens back from overseas.
2,000 from Spain, 8,000 from Indonesia and repatriated 1,550 from cruise ships.
For those still stuck abroad we’re doing everything we can to keep international airports open, keep flights flowing and to charter flights.
Every arm of government is doing everything it can to fight the challenges of coronavirus.
Professor Angela McClean: Our efforts are working
The deputy chief scientific officer said rail usage has fallen to below 20% of February’s figures, same with Tube travel.
She said the efforts people are making to stay at home are working.
She said the growth of people in hospitals is not as bad as if we had not been working hard.
Prof Whitty: The lockdown cannot end until we know when the peak is
Dominic Raab said: “Our team is making sure ‘full throttle’ that our strategy is working.”
Prof Whitty said we need to be confident we’re at the peak before relaxing restrictions.
He said we do not know for certain the peak will be at the end of the week so we cannot say when the lockdown will end.
