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Boris Johnson has played down the prospect of a second national coronavirus lockdown.
The Prime Minister insisted that he did not want to use such an extreme measure any more than Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent.
He added that the authorities were getting better at identifying and isolating local outbreaks, although it was important that the power to order national action was held in reserve.
“I can’t abandon that tool any more than I would abandon a nuclear deterrent,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
Coronavirus hits the UK – In pictures
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
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An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
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Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/50
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
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Durdle Door in Dorset
Reuters
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Captain Tom Moore
via Reuters
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Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
8/50
An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS
Reuters
9/50
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
10/50
Tobias Weller
PA
11/50
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
12/50
London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London.
Matt Writtle
13/50
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
14/50
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
15/50
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
16/50
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
17/50
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
18/50
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
19/50
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
20/50
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
21/50
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
22/50
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
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People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
24/50
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
25/50
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
26/50
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
27/50
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
28/50
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
29/50
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
30/50
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
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A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
32/50
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
33/50
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
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Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
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Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
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The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
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Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
38/50
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
39/50
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
40/50
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
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A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
42/50
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
44/50
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
45/50
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
46/50
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
47/50
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
48/50
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
49/50
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
50/50
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
1/50
Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/50
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/50
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/50
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/50
Durdle Door in Dorset
Reuters
6/50
Captain Tom Moore
via Reuters
7/50
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
8/50
An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS
Reuters
9/50
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
10/50
Tobias Weller
PA
11/50
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
12/50
London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London.
Matt Writtle
13/50
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
14/50
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
15/50
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
16/50
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
17/50
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
18/50
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
19/50
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
20/50
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
21/50
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
22/50
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
23/50
People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
24/50
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
25/50
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
26/50
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
27/50
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
28/50
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
29/50
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
30/50
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
31/50
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
32/50
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
33/50
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
34/50
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
35/50
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
36/50
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
37/50
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
38/50
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
39/50
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
40/50
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
41/50
A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
42/50
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
43/50
Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
44/50
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
45/50
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
46/50
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
47/50
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
48/50
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
49/50
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
50/50
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
“But it is like a nuclear deterrent, I certainly don’t want to use it. And nor do I think we will be in that position again.”
His comments could lead to further tensions between ministers and their scientific experts after the chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned on Friday there was “a risk” that national measures could be needed as winter approaches.
Announcing another easing lockdown restrictions in England, Mr Johnson on Friday said he hoped there could be a “significant return to normality” in time for Christmas.
At the same time, he said the Government had given local authorities new powers to close specific premises, shut outdoor spaces and cancel events.
Mr Johnson told the Telegraph: “It’s not just that we’re getting much better at spotting the disease and isolating it locally, but we understand far more which groups it affects, how it works, how it’s transmitted, so the possibility of different types of segmentation, of enhanced shielding for particular groups, is now there.”
“We’re genuinely able now to look at what’s happening in much closer to real time, to isolate outbreaks and to address them on the spot, and to work with local authorities to contain the problem locally and regionally if we have to.”