Covid: Government not ruling out third national lockdown, says minister

Comes as member of government’s Sage group says tier 3 measures won’t hold back ‘wave’ of cases

A third national lockdown for England cannot be ruled out after Christmas, one of Boris Johnson’s ministers has said – amid warnings tier 3 measures will not be enough to hold back the “wave” of Covid cases.

Schools minister Nick Gibb said “we rule nothing out” when asked about the possibility of moving into another shutdown if there was a marked rise in Covid cases after the five-day holiday relaxation of the rules.

“This government is absolutely determined to tackle this virus,” Mr Gibb told BBC Breakfast on Friday. “We think the tier system is a very effective way, of course, [but] you know, we rule nothing out.”

Asked on Sky News if England could be heading to towards another lockdown in the weeks ahead, the minister told Sky News: “Nothing is ruled out of course as we tackle this pandemic but the test system is a very effective way ... to focus the restrictions.”

However, Mr Gibb said the government was sticking with the regional, tiered system of Covid restrictions for now – claiming it was “effective” in helping control the virus in areas where “infection rates are rising”.

It comes as Professor John Edmunds, a member of the government’s Sage panel, said restrictions are likely to have to be tightened after Christmas. 

“At the moment it doesn't look like the tier system is holding the epidemic wave back, unfortunately,” he told Sky News on Friday.

“So I think we are going to have to look at these measures and perhaps tighten them up, we really will. It’s a horrible thing to have to say but we are in quite a difficult position.”

It follows comments made by Mr Johnson’s official spokesman on Thursday suggesting a change in approach could be considered. Asked if a third lockdown could be ruled out, the No 10 spokesman said: “We will obviously keep the latest data and the latest trends under review.”

Northern Ireland has announced a six-week lockdown to start on Boxing Day, while Wales is going into a level four lockdown on 28 December. Ministers in Scotland have also refused to rule out tougher curbs.

The Royal College of Nursing warned the NHS faces an “unrelenting tsunami” of coronavirus cases this winter, amid fears that commuters in London are driving a new wave of infections in southern England.

Dame Donna Kinnair, RCN chief executive, said ministers should give “fresh and more detailed” advice to the public with a week to go until Christmas. “What is at stake is coming into sharp focus,” she said.

“Travelling and family visits associated with this time of year will undoubtedly lead to more cases, more pressure on NHS and care services, and more deaths. By turning the second and third waves into an unrelenting tsunami, we would begin 2021 in the worst possible way.”

Senior government officials are concerned that commuting in London explains both the spread of the infection in south east of England, and the failure of tier 3 curbs to bring cases under control in Kent, according to The Times.

The dire warnings come as large swathes of southern and eastern England prepare to enter the top tier of Covid restrictions from Saturday – only days before the holiday break.

More than two-thirds of the population will be living under tier 3 measures as the government tries to stem rising infections which have led to fresh concerns about households mixing over the festive period.