Coronavirus Portsmouth: city leaders say new lockdown is 'inevitable' ahead of prime minister's TV announcement tonight

The news comes ahead of a planned televised address by prime minister Boris Johnson tonight, where he will announce the next steps he will take to tackle the virus.

Mr Johnson has been under pressure to take radical action to stop a new, more infectious form of Covid-19 from spreading out of control.

Speaking earlier today, the PM said there was no question tougher measures would be needed and that there would be ‘tough, tough times’ ahead.

Reports suggest England will be placed into a full lockdown, with schools closed for in-person lessons.

Confirming the TV address would begin at 8pm, a Downing Street spokesman added: ‘The spread of the new variant of Covid-19 has led to rapidly escalating case numbers across the country.

‘The prime minister is clear that further steps must now be taken to arrest this rise and to protect the NHS and save lives.

‘He will set those out this evening.’

Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt warned people to brace themselves for a tightening of measures.

Speaking to The News, the Portsmouth North MP said: ‘We are facing some very tough times. Healthcare is under immense strain and there are new challenges with the new variant.

‘I think further restrictions are inevitable and know the scientists are continually reviewing the situation. It is critical we keep following the advice.’

The Tory MP insisted she would continue to ‘make the case' for more business support, admitting it would be ‘terrible’ if firms ‘folded’ before ‘we were able to unlock the economy’.

‘This is the dark before the dawn the vaccines will bring,’ she added.

Portsmouth South MP, Stephen Morgan said: ‘The situation is incredibly serious. It is quite clear locally and nationally that further restrictions are needed to tackle the rapidly growing spread of Covid-19 and to get it under control.

‘I understand local NHS in Portsmouth is holding under these rising pressures, but action needs to be taken now before it is too late. We cannot be too slow to react again and government must act now.

‘Our way out of this is the vaccine and meanwhile the government must be focusing to vaccinate Britain as soon as possible to secure our economy, protect jobs and health in the long run.’

Tory leader for Portsmouth, Councillor Donna Jones said she backed a ‘short, sharp lockdown’ until the end of the month.

Her comments came as figures released this afternoon revealed the number of cases in Portsmouth hit 555 per 100,000 – higher than the English average of 509.

Cllr Jones said: ‘If there is a short, sharp, full lockdown coupled with a vaccination programme – so there is light at the end of the tunnel – then I will support it.

‘But it has to be with this light at the end of the tunnel because our freedoms are important and we shouldn’t lose sight of the value that we place upon why we live in a free and democratic state.’

Meanwhile, Fareham Borough Council’s leader’s has blasted a ‘small minority’ of people for flouting the rules – and raged their recklessness was crippling the nation.

‘Lockdown is a punishment for the majority and the terms will probably be ignored by the minority as they would throughout,’ the council boss said.

‘If people had abided by the restrictions that were already in place, we wouldn’t be where we are now.

‘The figures we are seeing now are horrifying. They are stratospheric...The government I’m sure will be forced to take more draconian action. I’m resigned to this.’

Last week, health chiefs at Queen Alexandra Hospital warned staff at the site were under huge strain to deal with the surge of coronavirus patients.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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