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Boris Johnson To Clarify Stay Alert Message; New Cases Discovered In South Korea And China; Confirmed Cases In White House Inner Circle. Aired 10:00-11a ET
Aired May 11, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:16]
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome, everybody. We continue our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. It is Monday. I'm Hala Gorani. Ahead
this hour, the U.K. tries to clarify its new state alert slogan as people who cannot work from home start to ease back into the workplace. We expect
to hear from Prime Minister Boris Johnson this hour.
Also South Korea sees a resurgence of coronavirus cases. So does Wuhan and China. And this is quite concerning. Are we seeing the second wave?
Also two confirmed cases in the Trump administration's inner circle, I would say visit to work in the White House right now.
Well, just like other countries before it, the U.K. is looking for more clarity after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson address the nation yesterday
and the government is today trying to provide some of that clarity because critics have called the messaging confusing and impractical. We expect to
hear from Prime Minister Boris Johnson live from Parliament later this hour.
The government released a document by the way this morning that offers some more specific guidance on top of the Prime Minister's announcement last
night. He said the nationwide lockdown is not ending even as he called for some workers to return to their jobs if they can't do their jobs at home.
Here's a bit of that address. If you missed it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I know, you know, that it would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike. We
must stay alert. We must continue to control the virus and save lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, our chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward joins me from London, outside Parliament. What -- so people are a little bit
confused because a lot of details were left out. We got a little bit more from this government Communique this morning. But essentially what does
stay alert mean versus stay home?
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, it's no longer stay home, Hala, in the sense that as of Wednesday, you'll be allowed to go
out multiple times a day to do exercise, you'll even be allowed to sit on a park bench. And if you're able to work safely away from home but cannot
work from home, then you'll be allowed to return to work specifically the Prime Minister mentioned people in construction and also manufacturers.
But here's the rub. He said that those people should avoid using public transport that essentially they should try to either drive or walk or cycle
to work. And that has a lot of people scratching their heads, creating some degree of confusion. And it also has some of these workers who are being
urged to go back to work through their unions voicing some concerns about whether it is indeed really safe for them to do so.
Because what has been very clear throughout the Prime Minister's speech and through this 50-page Communique that we have been sort of sifting through
over the last hour or so, is that there's still a lot of reservation and a lot of concern about really opening the U.K. up and potentially allowing a
second wave of infection to be unleashed. The plan is stand, I told you what phase one was.
Step two, which is supposed to start around June 1st would allow non- essential retail to open. But again, the language is very vague. The government now says that if you're inside a store and it's a confined area,
you should wear a mask, but it won't be enforced. So you should wear a mask, but you don't have to wear a mask. And by the way, that non-essential
retail store it should open around June 1st, but it might not open around June 1st.
Some schools, primary schools, year one year six will also be hopefully opening around that time. And then potentially a third wave which won't
happen before July 4th. And that would be hospitality, restaurants, cafes, things of that nature. So very vague on the language leaving themselves a
lot of wiggle room to change those dates, should they need to do so in order to ensure that that our rate they keep talking about, that rate of
infection, that rate of transmission stays in the safe zone somewhere around naught .5 ideally, but under one. Hala?
GORANI: Yes. And one of the more concerning figures as well as the lower paid workers here in the U.K. seem to be most affected by COVID and
presumably people who are gig economy workers, construction and cleaning all that type of thing where obviously they can do their job from home, are
sometimes obliged to go back to work, you know, to make ends meet to sort of make a living.
[10:05:16]
GORANI: How is the government addressing that?
WARD: Well, I mean -- and I certainly think that's why you've seen the unions come out and say, hold on a second, or some of the unions I should
say, this simply doesn't add up. This doesn't seem fair, it doesn't seem that there are strong indications that all the right measures and
precautions have been taken to ensure that it is absolutely safe for people in construction, for people in manufacturing, for truck drivers, for people
working in the sort of food assembly lines to get back to work.
And yet that is what appears to be the government's requests. They don't want to enforce it. They don't want to say you have to go back, they're
trying to sort of push that onus onto employers and say, it's the employer's possibility to ensure that they create a safe workplace. But
given the vagaries again around some of the language urging these people to take public transport, one has to ask how a construction worker living on
the outskirts of London is supposed to get to their job in Central London potentially without taking public transport.
One can see very quickly how you arrive in a scenario where there is this fundamental inequality where people in lower paid manual jobs are putting
themselves on the line, putting themselves at risk and contracting the disease more frequently than people in higher paid office jobs that they
can continue to do from home, Hala.
GORANI: All right. Thank you very much. Clarissa Ward outside Parliament there. And Clarissa has got company behind her there. Thanks very much for
joining us. For more perspective on the Prime Minister's plan, I am joined now by one lawmaker whose party is not entirely on board with it. Stewart
McDonald is a member of the House of Commons from the Scottish National Party, and he joins me now live from Glasgow.
Thank you for joining us. Why aren't you happy with this government announcement?
STEWART MCDONALD, SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY POLITICIAN: Well, much of what you just told your viewers would chide with our criticisms. Very vague, but
partly ill thought out and from my own perspective, you would expect me to mention the fact that the United Kingdom doesn't have one government that
is in control of all these things, that has four different governments.
Boris Johnson is responsible for public health messaging in England, it's entirely right that he is the person who sets what happens there. But this
new public health messaging does not apply outside of England. It doesn't apply in Wales, Northern Ireland, or Scotland, where I represent and it has
-- it has come to light that when the U.K. government has changed the messaging and change tactic that has not been done in full consultation
with the heads of other governments of the U.K. That's a public health disaster we tend to happen.
GORANI: Right. But obviously there is movement between Scotland and England. And so whatever happens in England affects Scotland necessarily to
some degree. But what -- I mean, what do you think the better strategy would have been? Because the Prime Minister, obviously, the messaging is
vague. But can they be more precise at this stage without the science, without just trying in phase one to open up a little bit?
See if the infection rate jumps and if it doesn't kind of ease further and step two and three. What would you have wanted to see more than what the
government has so far communicated?
MCDONALD: We'd like to see greater transparency, I think they should -- they should start to publish the science that is informing their strategy,
especially when it's going to lead to such a big change. And I'm sure you may or maybe you've not seen some of the images from Central London this
morning, an enormous amount of traffic and enormous amount of people on public transport, everything the Prime Minister hopes to avoid.
If the Prime Minister was going to make these big changes which to him may be subtle, but clearly they're not to others. He should have done that in
greater consultation with workplaces, with the unions, he should have done it with the transport authorities devolved governments so that we get this
right. I have an element of sympathy. You know, my own government here in Scotland is feeling a whip around this crisis in the same way every
government around the world is.
And I want the Prime Minister to get this right, let's be clear about that. But I think -- I think proceeding in this way without consultation, without
transparency is potentially what could make what's happened in Germany, where they started to ease the lockdown and there's no sooner that the rate
of infection has gone up happened here. Nobody wants that to happen.
[10:10:01]
GORANI: But -- although we're still -- the jury's still out on whether or not the jump and the rate of infection in Germany is necessarily linked to
the easing in the lockdown restrictions, that's something we're going to be exploring. But you are also faced with a huge challenge because the economy
is going to collapse in this country and not just in the U.K. but the U.K. is seeing potentially a 14 percent decline in GDP this year alone.
On top of that, there's Brexit that will put more pressure on the economy and jobs. I mean -- I mean, it's a -- it's a -- it's a lose-lose here,
isn't it?
MCDONALD: It's going to be tough. There's no question of that. And, you know, Brexit will have its own consequences, and perhaps we can discuss
that another time. But that's why we need to get this right. It's why we need to get this right with all the governments in the United Kingdom and
get it right with industry and trade unions. You know, the government has told people that they can -- in certain circumstances return to work.
Most of these workplaces, I highly doubt have even begun to think about how they can accommodate workers or customers with regards to things like
social distancing, and all of the other measures that we need to take to keep people safe. So I think this was entirely avoidable. It could have
been done with greater transparency, greater consultation in a way that takes the public workers. In a way that recognizes also so that we are
dealing with this virus.
(CROSSTALK)
GORANI: I get that but if you look at all of Europe -- I just want to -- I just - I mean, you've obviously been following how other countries have
dealt with this. If you had to name a model that you think was effective. Which one would it be? Because when you say it was entirely preventable, it
wasn't entirely preventable. I mean, after all, the virus was in the U.K. in the early part of the year.
Some people were going to inevitably get sick. But what would you looking at other countries say was the model you wish the U.K. had adopted?
MCDONALD: Well, I think that's kind of presenting it in a false way to be honest, every country has to deal with it in different ways, not just
because of the rate that the virus spreads through society, but various different cultural issues that we have to tackle with as well. But can I
just deal with this point about it being preventable because it was. All week last week we had in the U.K. being trailed from sources in the U.K.
government to the media, that today, Monday was going to be freedom Monday, we built up an impression.
The government allowed this to be built up over several days, that there was going to be this dramatic change. That has no had to be drawn back. It
hasn't been drawn back enough. And we've seen the quite disgraceful scenes over the weekend of lots of people in parts, people in Congress and having
street parties for V.E. Day as though there were no pandemic going on. So messaging does matter.
It matters not just to keep people safe, but as you mentioned in your last question, how we start to open the economy up and rebuild it and approach
those challenges in the best possible way. But I'm afraid the government, the U.K. Government has not got this right so far. And I see this as
someone who -- although I'm in opposition to the conservatives, I want them to get it right. It's in everybody's interest that they get this right.
GORANI: All right. Stewart McDonald, thanks very much. And we have been reaching out as well to members of the government and representatives of
the government to join us on air to give us their view, their point of view and share that with us. Thank you very much. Stwewart McDonald.
MCDONALD: Thank you.
GORANI: A member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party. Now, we were discussing with the Member of Parliament there what's going on in --
in the U.K. But as European countries begin to reopen, children across the continent are headed back to school. In France for instance, as Melissa
Bell reports, their classes are looking very different now than they did before the pandemic. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Some of those European citizens hardest hit by stay-at-home orders are finally getting back to something
approaching normal. These teenagers in Germany were returning to their school building one by one. In Denmark primary school children were the
first in Europe to get back to their classrooms on April 15th. Some less enthusiastically than others. With teaching staff facing a whole new set of
challenges.
HENRIK WILHELMSEN, SCHOOL HEAD TEACHER: We have soap, disinfectant all over the place. We have -- we have put lines in the floor to indicate two meters
intervals so the children can see what is two meters.
BELL: Since the start of Europe's coronavirus outbreak in late February, Italy, then Spain, France, many other E.U. countries gradually put in place
stay-at-home orders and closed schools. Only now are many countries beginning to reopen.
And crucial to getting parents back to work is getting their children back into class. In the Netherlands, the classrooms that will open Monday will
look very different.
[10:15:06]
BELL: Here, as in France, some children have started early. Children of health care workers, for instance. This week other primary school children
will return to class on a voluntary basis and classes will be smaller so priority will be given to the children of essential workers. In announcing
the reopening of schools the French President explained it was a matter of social justice.
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): Too many children, especially in poorer neighborhoods and in the countryside, are deprived of
school with no access to digital learning, they cannot be helped in the same way by their parents.
BELL: As schools like this one gradually reopen their doors, it will be an important test. The government here has said it will not hesitate to bring
in another stay-at-home order should those COVID-19 figures rise once again. So can kids inside schools be kept safe from one another and are
parents happy to be sending them back?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm looking forward to them going back to school because I have to work. My husband is working also and it's very
complicated to work at home with kids.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We have asked for our children to go back to school but first children from disadvantaged backgrounds. That's
not our case. And since we work remotely, we are not the priority.
BELL: Many French school children will have to wait before going back to school, a reminder that closing down back in March was easy and not just
enough, it is reopening that is harder even as the battle against the outbreak continues.
Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well throughout the next two hours, we will be looking at how other countries around Europe are lifting the lockdown restrictions or not as the
case may be. From France, let's take you to Spain now followed by Germany. First, Al Goodman is in Madrid.
AL GOODMAN, CNN MADRID CORRESPONDENT: I'm at Goodman in Madrid. About half of Spain's population is getting more freedom from the coronavirus lockdown
starting Monday. These territories have lower infection rates the government says and hospitals ready to handle any second wave. For the
first time in nearly two months. Groups of up to 10 people who don't live together can finally meet, restaurants can reopen, but only their outdoor
seating at 50 percent capacity.
Stores can have a limited number of clients inside. But this deescalation is not happening yet here in Madrid. And in Barcelona, the two hardest hit
places by coronavirus in Spain. These two cities and the other territories will remain under stricter measures. Restaurants for example, for takeout
food only, and stores by appointment only.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOODMAN: Well, here in Germany this country continues to open up as the authorities are loosening some of the measures meant to combat the novel
coronavirus. As of this week, shops even larger ones are allowed to open again as well as bars, restaurants and cafes. Now of course all of this
under very strict hygiene measures. At the same time some bad news coming for the Germans as well as this country's Center for Disease Control is
saying that the reproduction number for the novel coronavirus has increased.
And that means potentially that the virus is spreading again and not getting pushed back. Now, Angela Merkel has said that Germans needs to be
cautious and continue to adhere to the physical distancing measures of risk a new spike in infections and possibly a new lockdown. Fred Pleitgen CNN,
Rostock, Germany.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, countries looking to reopen today in Europe, for instance, may want to take notice of the spike in new cases of COVID-19 in parts of
Asia, where restrictions were eased a few weeks ago. South Korea is reversing plans to reopen schools after a recent spike in COVID-19 cases
was linked to nightclubs in Seoul. Also, officials are reporting a new cluster of cases in Wuhan China where the virus first emerged.
And cases in another Northeastern City in China. Ivan Watson joins me now live from Hong Kong with more on these new cases in the region. Hi, Ivan.
And let's start with what happened in South Korea. Are they linking the spike in new cases, to the lifting or the easing of these lockdown
measures? Have they made that link definitively?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What they're definitely doing is they've closed down nightclubs in three South Korean
cities. As you mentioned, they're postponing the schools that were supposed to reopen on Wednesday. They're postponing the reopening for at least
another week now. And this is after they found this relatively small but significant given how well South Korea had done with the outbreak of about
86 new cases that were linked to a number of nightclubs in Seoul's Itaewon disrict.
[10:20:01]
WATSON: And that have also been linked to a 29-year-old man who was believed to have visited at least three different nightclubs. This was the
biggest spike in new cases that South Korea had seen in about a month. So the authorities are taking it quite seriously. The South Korean President
has said -- has urged people to prepare for what could be he says a second wave of infections. And he went on to say over the weekend, it's not over
until it's over. Hala?
GORANI: What about -- what about Wuhan then? Because these new -- this is obviously where the whole thing -- the whole pandemic originated. Talk to
us about the cases there and how authorities and health officials believe that these news spikes occurred where the infections took place.
WATSON: Right. In South Korea, we had community transmission and now it sounds like in that original epidemic outbreak City of Wuhan where the
coronavirus was first discovered back in December, that city that went under a very fierce 76-day lockdown has had a small outbreak of community
transmission. Five new cases found there on Sunday. That has prompted the authorities to raise the alert level in one neighborhood there.
And things have loosened up there. For example, high school seniors were going back to school in Wuhan just last week. And now people have to be on
alert. They're been urged by the top health authorities to be on alert and to take precautions against the virus. While China has had an improvement
in Wuhan and other parts of the country, it continues to face challenges in cities and provinces along its borders with Russia.
So you just had another city called Shulan in Jilin province that has just announced that it's going to "Fully activate more time mode." This after
there were 14 confirmed cases there in two days and gatherings are canceled. The mayor is shutting down pharmacies from selling fever
medications, for example, because they want anybody suspected of having the virus of going to designated hospitals.
It just goes to show that even China which has done surprisingly well, given that the first outbreak began in China is still having to fight
against these outbreaks cropping up and having to roll back the freedoms that were allowed. And it's a suggestion if we can look at these case
studies, that we may see similar patterns in other countries in the West as they struggle with this virus. Hala?
GORANI: Right. For instance, in Germany, where we're seeing also an increase in the rate of infection, which is worrying some that perhaps this
is related to the easing in these lockdown restrictions. Thank you very much, Ivan. And congratulations, I saw you got married in full face mask,
full protective gear but good for you. Congratulations.
When we come back, the White House is trying to figure out how a senior staffer contracted the coronavirus. Should the U.S. president and vice
president put themselves under quarantine, after so many of their inner circle have tested positive? We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:25:35]
GORANI: Welcome back, everybody. Senior U.S. health officials several of them in the United States including Dr. Anthony Fauci are self-quarantining
after being in contact with White House staffers who've tested positive for the coronavirus. But Vice President Pence is not under quarantine. Even
though his press secretary tested positive. Let's bring in CNN White House Correspondent John Harwood. So why is the Vice President not self-
quarantining?
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The reason, Hala, is because both the President and the Vice President are trying to communicate to the
American people that it is safe to reopen the economy and get going again. There's a lot of fear within the White House's, we heard from top economic
adviser Kevin Hassett yesterday. He said it's scary to go to work. They spent the weekend trying to contact trace the people who had been in
connection with Katie Miller, the Vice President Pence's press secretary to find out where she got it.
Who else might have been exposed. Some people are staying home from work. But President Trump and Vice President Pence both of whom get tested every
day have fine medical care, have Secret Service protection are trying to convince the American people that it is time to end the lockdown and reopen
the economy. That is in direct conflict. With what they're doing within the White House, with the alarm within the White House.
And the reason they are trying to communicate that message is the number one thing, Hala, that's necessary for a successful economic reopening is
public confidence. That's what will get consumers out, going to restaurants and the like, it's going to get investors willing to put their money down
on the resumption of economic activity. It's what's going to get businesses to call their workers back. And if you communicate that the White House is
not safe.
How can any ordinary employer or ordinary worker feel that it's safe, so there's a conflict, they're trying to resolve it by projecting a sense of
calm and all as well, but the American public is not necessarily buying it. We see from public opinion polls, there is substantial concern among the
public about restarting and that's going to make an economic recovery muted even if the government says go ahead.
GORANI: All right. John Harwood, thanks very much. There is concern and all -- not always agreement obviously between the Federal government and state
officials. Thanks so much for joining us.
Coming up. A deadly, very deadly training accident kills more than a dozen Iranian sailors in the Gulf of Oman. More on that developing story when we
come back. We're live in the region.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:30:44]
GORANI: Welcome back. World leaders are around the globe obviously trying to figure out ways to safely allow travel between cities and countries
where the virus is more or less under control. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have created a so called travel bubble allowing their citizens to
pass through the region's borders without being quarantined and they're considering also opening that up to other countries.
Polish citizens are able to travel without self-quarantining. The Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevicius joins me now via
Skype. Thank you very much Foreign Minister for joining us. Talk to us about this travel bubble because we see that for instance, New Zealand and
Australia are considering something similar. How is it working for you?
LINAS LINKEVICIUS, LITHUANIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS (via Skype): Oh, when we faced all these disaster virus, definitely we took national measures and
very individually, there was no coordination and this is not good, basically. So never too late. Try to think at least about exiting this
situation and maybe to prepare for next --
(CROSSTALK)
GORANI: Foreign Minister, if I can -- I apologize. I'm just going to jump in -- it's -- we're hearing from the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. I
just want to go to him and then come back to you.
LINKEVICIUS: OK.
JOHNSON: -- our NHS and saving lives. Tragically, many families have lost loved ones before their time, and we share their grief. Yet our shared
effort has adverted a still worse catastrophe, one that could have overwhelmed the NHS and claimed half a million lives. Every day, dedicated
doctors, nurses, and social care workers, army medics and more have risked their own lives in the service of others.
And they have helped to cut the reproduction rate from between 2.6 and 2.8. in April to be naught .5 and naught .9 today. The number of COVID patients
in hospital has fallen by over a third since Easter Sunday. Our armed forces joined the NHS to build new hospitals on timetables that will
telescope from years to weeks, almost doubling the number of critical care beds and ensuring that since the end of at least a third have always been
available.
Our challenge now is to find a way for with the preserves our hard won gains by easing the burden of lockdown. And I'll be candid with the house.
This is a supremely difficult balance to strike, there could be no greater mistake than to jeopardize everything we've striven to achieve by
proceeding too far and too fast. We will be driven not by hope or economic revival as an engine itself, but by data and science and public health.
And so the government is today submitting to the house a plan which is conditional and dependent as always on the common sense and observance of
the British people and on continual reassessment of the data. That picture varies across the regions and home nations of the United Kingdom, requiring
a flexible response. Different parts of the U.K. may need to stay in full lockdown longer.
But any divergence should only be short term because as Prime Minister of the U.K., I'm in no doubt that we must defeat this threat and face the
challenge of recovery together. Our progress will depend on meeting five essential tests, protecting the NHS, reducing both the daily death toll and
the infection rate in a sustained way, ensuring the testing and PPE can meet future demand, which is a global problem.
But one that we must fix and avoiding a second peak that would overwhelm the NHS. A new U.K. wide joined by a security center will measure our
progress with a five-stage COVID alert system. And the combined effect of our measures so far has been to prevent us from reaching level five, a
situation that would have been in which the NHS would have been overwhelmed and to hold us at level four.
Thanks to the hard work and sacrifices of the British people by following the social distancing rules.
[10:35:03]
JOHNSON: We're now in a position where we can move in stages to where I hope the scientific advice will tell us that we are down to level three.
But this will only happen if everyone continues to play their part to stay alert and to follow the rules. We must also deal with the epidemic in care
homes, where a tragic number of the elderly and vulnerable have been lost. And while the situation is thankfully improving, there is a vast amount
more to be done.
And of course, we need a world leading system for testing and tracking and tracing victims and their contact. So I'm delighted to Baroness Harding,
the chair of NHS Improvement, has agreed to take charge of a program that will ultimately enable us to test hundreds of thousands of people every
day. All this means that we have begun our descent from the peak of the epidemic, but our journey has reached the most perilous moment by a wrong
move could be disastrous.
So, at this stage, we can go no further than to announce the first careful modification of our measures. Step one, in moving towards COVID alert level
three, a shift in emphasis that we can begin this week. Anyone who cannot work from home should be actively encouraged to go to work in sectors that
are allowed to be open should indeed, be open but subject to social distancing.
These include food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, scientific research and to support this, to explain this
again, we're publishing guidance for businesses on how to make these workplaces safe COVID secure. People who are able to work from home, as we
continually said should do so. People who cannot work from home should talk to their employers about returning this week and the difficulties that they
may or may not have.
Anyone with COVID symptoms, obviously, or in a household, where someone else has symptoms should self-isolate. We want everyone traveling to work
to be safe. So people should continue to avoid public transport wherever possible, because we must maintain social distancing, which will inevitably
limit capacity instead, people should drive or better still walkor cycle.
With more activity outside our homes we would now advise people to wear a cloth face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not
always possible and you're more likely to come in contact with people you don't normally meet. The reason is face coverings can help to protect each
other and reduce the spread of the disease, particularly if you have coronavirus-like symptoms.
But this does not mean -- I'm going to stress this, this does not mean we're in medical facemasks to our FFP3 which must be reserved for people
who need them. We've all lived so far with onerous restrictions, Mr. Speaker, on those spaces and exercise. And this is -- and this is where I -
- my own (INAUDIBLE) because I know you're the keen swimmer, Mr. Speaker, and unfortunately we can't do anything for swimming pools but we can do
something for lakes and the sea.
This is where we can go significantly further and because the -- there is a lower risk out from outdoors and indoors. So from Wednesday, there will be
no limits on the frequency of outdoor exercise people can take, you can now walk, sit and rest in parks, you can play sports, and exercise. And you can
do all these things with members of your household, your own household or with one other person from another household, provided you observe social
distancing and remain two meters apart.
And I do hope that's clear, Mr. Speaker and I'm conscious people to come back and ask questions in more detail, I'd be very happy to answer. We
should increase the fines for the small minority who break the rules starting at 100 pounds with doubling with each infringement up to 3600. You
can drive as far as you like to reach night space subject to the same rules and the laws and guidance of the devolved administrations.
[10:40:03]
JOHNSON: I'm sorry to say however, Mr. Speaker, that we should continue to ask those who are clinically vulnerable, including pregnant women and
people over 70 or those with preexisting chronic conditions to take particular care to minimize contact with those outside their households.
And we must continue to shield people who are extremely vulnerable, they should, I'm afraid, remain at home and avoid any direct contact with
others.
I know that easing restrictions for many will only increase the anguish of those who must remain shielded, so the government will look at every
possible way of supporting the most vulnerable. Mr. Speaker, all of our precautions will count political if our country is reinfected from
overseas, so I give notice that we shall introduce new restrictions at U.K. border, requiring 14 days of self-isolation for international arrivals
while respecting our common travel area with Ireland.
Every day we should monitor our progress. And if we stay on the downward slope and R remains below one, then and only then when it becomes safe to
go further and move to the second step. This won't happen until the first of June at the earliest, but we may then be in a position to start the
phased reopening of shops to return children to earlier settings including nurseries and child minders to return primary schools to school in stages
giving priority to the youngest children reception.
And years one -- and year one and those in year six preparing for secondary school and to enable secondary school pupils facing exams next year to get
at least some time with their teachers. Our ambition and I stress this is conditional, Mr. speakers, for all primary school pupils to return to the
classroom for a month before the summer break. To those areas, we are publishing guidance on how school might reopen safely.
Step two could also include allowing cultural and sporting events behind closed doors for broadcasts, which I think would provide a much needed
boost to national morale. But nothing can substitute, Mr. Speaker, for human contact and say the government is on stage when and how we can safely
allow people to expand their household group to include one other household on a strictly reciprocal basis.
Finally, no earlier than July, now, Mr. Speaker, unconsciously you wanted me to wind up and I may say --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wait a minute.
JOHNSON: I understand. And perhaps, Mr. Speaker, would be in order if I requested that my interrogation could continue for a little bit longer in
order -- in order for me to make all these points. No earlier than July, we may be able to move to step three if and only if supported by the data and
the best scientific advice. But we would then open aim to -- aim to reopen, aim to reopen. Some remaining businesses including potentially hospitality,
cinemas and addresses as well as places of worship and leisure facilities.
And this will depend on maintaining social distancing and new ways of providing services. So, we will phase and pilot any reopenings to ensure
public safety. And I must be clear again, if the data goes the wrong way, if your luck level begins to rise, we will have no hesitation in putting on
the brakes delaying or reintroducing measures locally, regionally, or nationally.
Mr. Speaker, our struggle against this virus has placed our country under the kind of strain that will be remembered for generations, but so too has
the response of the British people. So too with the response of the British people from dedicated shop workers keeping our supermarkets open and
ingenious teachers finding new ways of inspiring their pupils to the kindness of millions who have checked on their neighbors delivered food for
the elderly or raised astonishing minor amounts for charity.
In these and in so many other ways we are seeing the indomitable spirit of Britain. And Mr. Speaker, let me -- let me summarize by saying that people
should stay alert, by working from home if you possibly can, by limiting contact with others by keeping your distance to two meters apart, where
possible washing your hands, where washing your hands regularly. And if you or anyone in your household has symptoms, you all need to save yourself
isolate.
Because if everyone stays alert and follows the rules, we can control the virus, keep the rate of infection down and keep the number of infections
down. And that is how we will be able, Mr. Speaker to save lives and to save livelihoods as we begin to recover from the coronavirus. And I commend
this statement to the house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I'd like to say is up to the leader of the opposition, please take an extra minute after. Thank you. Leader of the
opposition, Keir Starmer, six minutes.
KEIR STARMER, PARTY LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I thank the Prime Minister for advanced copy of his statement and for
advance copy of the command paper that is often sent through an hour or so ago.
[10:45:05]
STARMER: And for taking time to speak to me and other opposition leaders yesterday before his speech, and can I start by acknowledging just how
difficult the decisions are that now full to be taken, we do recognize how difficult they are. What the country needs at this time is clarity and
reassurance. And at the moment, both are in pretty short supply. And at the heart of the problem, it seems, is the prime minister made a statement last
night before the plan was written or at least finalized, and that has caused considerable confusion.
So yesterday afternoon, there was a number 10 press release. That said, from Monday or today, anyone who can't work from home for instance, those
in construction or manufacturing should be actively encouraged to go to work. So it's understood from that that it was today was the start date.
And that was for construction --
GORANI: All right. That is the leader of the opposition here in the U.K., Keir Starmer and he's responding to Boris Johnson's address in the U.K.
Parliament. They're reiterating much of what we heard yesterday.
Also off the top there, the Prime Minister acknowledging that there was a tragic number of people who've died in care homes of COVID-19. Recommending
providing a little bit more detail perhaps on some of these recommendations recommending that face coverings be worn in enclosed spaces. That exercise
can happen can take place as often, as a person wants, there are no real restrictions on the number of minutes that you could spend outside.
I've never heard that, it's being much of an issue for people once a day seems quite enough for most. Also, the Prime Minister saying that the fines
for the small minority of people who break the rules would be increased and that there would be new border restrictions requiring 14 days of self-
quarantine for international arrivals except for travelers from Ireland. And that this would be a phase sort of easing of the lockdown based on the
number of infections and based on scientific advice.
Though this plan has come under a lot of criticism from the opposition and also members of the public who've said they don't have enough details.
People who own hotels or dentists or that kind of thing, and they really want to know when and how they can reopen and see some of the scientific
evidence and research that the government has been relying on to make these decisions.
So we'll get back to that. Our Clarissa Ward has been listening in on this and I'll be speaking to her at the top of the next hour but I want to thank
the Foreign Affairs Minister of Lithuania, Linas Linkevicius who has been patient and has been with us throughout this address by the Prime Minister
of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson there.
Where we left our conversation, Foreign Minister, was about how you've created a travel bubble between the Baltics -- the three Baltic countries.
And this is something perhaps that could be a model for other countries that are in close geographic proximity. How has that worked for you so far?
LINKEVICIUS: It's not yet started, you know, we are going to do that introducing Friday, but you're quite right. When the virus disturbed the
pipes quiet substantially we undertook quite individual measures, you know, everybody did something on their own. It was not good. There's no
coordination at all. So at least two and we're getting out of the situation, maybe we can try to coordinate.
So we started with (INAUDIBLE) because of epistemological situation are quite compatible. As you said, bubble or common travel area, whatever you
can call could be stablished. So it's not the end. We have to expand probably further, but also we have to prepare for next waves of this
possible virus. Maybe we could be better prepared because I agree, we should be really more informed before taking decisions.
But at the same time, these decisions should be also compatible, how we'll introduce restrictions, the testings, how we'll treat to this virus, are we
going to introduce quarantine or not because there are countries, which didn't do that, as we all know. So therefore, we have this borders between
the us. So this is a lot of questions. I believe we have to do that regionally and to expand to the possibility further.
GORANI: Yes. How much has this hurt you? Because last year and in the last few years, Lithuania has been very aggressive and marketing itself as a
tourism destination. And in fact, your tourism numbers really jumped quite a bit. And this must, obviously is decimating the tourism industry around
the world. How much is this coronavirus pandemic hurting your economy?
LINKEVICIUS: Well, same as others. Definitely our GDP dropped and (INAUDIBLE) came went down and this is not exceptional.
[10:50:04]
LINKEVICIUS: Everybody faces the same. But we did that because we need it. It was obligatory measures so nobody can complain and people, society they
understand. And the solidarity of the society is also very important to inform people, why are we doing this? Why are these limitations or
restriction are reduced and to -- how it goes. So, society they are not happy, but they understand. So I believe this is also the way to go in the
future.
LINKEVICIUS: Uh-hmm. You are concerned over some of the tensions between the United States and China, some Western States and China as well. The
divisions in the E.U. were made very apparent by the pandemic, especially in the beginning when Italy and Southern European countries were very
unhappy with the European Union. They felt like they asked for help that they didn't get.
It seems like all this talk of unity and cooperation is good rhetoric. But in practice, it really hasn't happened. Well, what are your main concerns
here?
LINKEVICIUS: partially it happened, partially not? Somebody says too late but look, it's also kind of stress test, you know, we do what we all are
undergoing, stress test of our unity, of ability to show resilience with regard to this virus and other threats as well. And after all this, maybe
we'll be stronger I hope. It will draw lessons from out of that. So definitely, this is the case. This is applicable not only to us, every
country, you name it.
Everybody has the same problems and I believe this is important to point the coordinate and to compare notes how we are treating the situation. Yes,
we were concerned about that since the very beginning and to --
GORANI: All right. Thank --
LINKEVICIUS: -- our measures were introduced by --
(CROSSTALK)
GORANI: Thank you very much. Your country is on my -- is on my list. I've wanted to visit Lithuania for a long time. I hope to be able to make it
sooner rather than later. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevicius joining me via Skype. We're going to go back to the House of
Commons here in London. The U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is speaking again.
JOHNSON: Let me -- let me try and deal with some of the issues that he -- that he raised. What we're saying now is that you should stay at home if
you can, but go to work if you -- if you must, if your job doesn't allow you to go to work and plainly he raised properly the issue of people who
don't have the right childcare, Mr. Speaker, and we will we -- will count on employers to be to -- be reasonable.
They -- if people can't go to work because they can't get the childcare that they need, then clearly they are impeded from going to work. And they
must be defended and protected on that. On that basis, their kids can't yet go to school because the schools aren't back then plainly. They can Don't
go to work. And I think people with common sense, businesses employers with common sense do you understand that.
I think it's incumbent on all of us to get that -- to get that message across. But I think one thing that was perhaps missing from his analysis,
Mr. Speaker was the simple fact that over the last couple of months, actually plenty of businesses from construction to manufacturing, office
businesses of all kinds actually have been proceeding. And they have been working, they've been doing so in a way that respects social distancing,
that is as COVID compliant as possible.
And so, to answer his specific questions about the timescale for the publications of our -- of our guidelines, we will be publishing the
guidelines on places of employment. Today, tonight, transport will be out tomorrow. And we're being very, very consistent in what we've said
throughout this period the very beginning we said that you should stay at home if you can. Go to work, if you must.
What's changed now is the emphasis and the encouragement that we're giving to people, as it were to follow the initial guidance -- the initial
guidance of March the, the 23rd. I think it was. He asked Mr. Speaker about the -- what silence it's going to be to -- be based on and how we've
reached the conclusions that that we have. As I said, last night, as I -- as I told the house, the R, the reproduction rate of the disease is now
between point five and point nine.
It varies across the country, as he rightly says, and that's why actually different approaches by the devolved administrations to be welcomed,
whether those are appropriate to their specific needs. But overall, and I think that all leaders of the devolved administrations would confirm this,
there is a very, very strong desire to move forward as four nations together.
[10:55:02]
JOHNSON: And perhaps, so I can -- I can sum up and we all share -- we all share the strong view that you should stay at home, if you can, that
remains the position. So the steps we're taking today are modest steps entirely governed by the science. We hope -- we hope that we may be in a
position. This is entirely conditional to take a further steps in. Forgive me, Mr. Speaker, further steps in the in the next few weeks.
He asked an entirely given the complexity of what's being said he raises a perfectly reasonable point about people moving across the border into to
Wales for recreational purposes or -- I totally and believe me, there will be myriad other hypothetical situations which people will be able to raise.
But let's be absolutely clear, Mr. Speaker, that I think everybody, everybody understands what we are trying to do together.
And that is -- that is working together as a country to obey the social distancing rules, which everybody understands. And I think what the British
people understand that this is the moment for the whole country to come together and to obey those rules, and to apply their common sense in the
application of those rules. And I have huge admiration for the way that the police have enforced them so far.
And I know that the British public is going to continue to help the police and everybody to enforce those rules to get our reproduction rate down to
get this disease even further under control by continuing to apply good, solid British common sense. It's worked throughout phase one, I have no
doubt that it's going to work in the second phase of the disease as well of the fight against the disease as well. Andrew Rosindell.
ANDREW ROSINDELL, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I firstly thank the Prime Minister for the tremendous leadership of our
nation during these times. And also please comprehensive statement today. But what do you please outline he's post Brexit and post COVID economic
plan to set our U.K. economy back on the right track in the coming decade.
And does he agree with me that our priority must be to make plans now to boost domestic output in manufacturing and agriculture, so that we can
reduce our reliance on imports, and support British business growth and job creation in constituencies like Rumford with a bold free enterprise agenda,
led I believe, by a prime minister who I know will show -- will show the true Bulldog spirits of this country and take our nation back to prosperity
and greater things in the future.
JOHNSON: Well, I think my honorable friend very much. And I can -- I can assure him that the spirit of Rumford will certainly be actuating our
approach. And I can -- I can tell him that -- but actually there's a huge difference between the way this government has handled this crisis and what
happened in 2008. Huge difference. The most important, of course, is that we decided to look after the livelihoods and the job prospects of the -- of
the families across the country.
And we looked after people who are on low pay or modest incomes in retail and hospitality with our job. The coronavirus job protection scheme with
the following scheme. And we're going to ensure that this economy comes back strongly, Mr. Speaker, and will be uniting and leveling up across the
entirety of the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We now go to the leader of the SNP, Ian Blackford.
IAN BLACKFORD, LEADER OF THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY: Thank you Mr. Speaker. It is obvious that the last 24 hours has spread confusion. What
the public desperately needs today is to be given some clarity. Mr. Speaker, lives are at risk. So political judgments and verdicts on this
weekend's chaos. We'll have to wait for another day. I respect the right to the Prime Minister to make his judgments on his scientific advice.
I hope he is right. And the determinations he is making, and crucially, if evidence suggests that increase in the rate that he's prepared to act
accordingly. Mr. Speaker, we need to be guided by one clear understanding, and that is that mixed messaging risks lives. In order to urgently
reestablish clarity, I want to ask the Prime Minister five specific questions, and I would genuinely urge him to provide five clear answers.
So for clarity, well, the Prime Minister confirm that he accepts and respects that in the devolved nations, the advice clearly remains.
[11:00:00]
END
