This is what we learned about the lockdown - and how long it may last - from today's Downing Street press conference

Here’s what we learned about the coronavirus lockdown – and how long it is likely to last – from today’s Government press conference.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock was joined by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Angela McLean, the Government’s deputy chief scientific adviser.

:: The first phase of the outbreak is ‘probably reaching its peak.’

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ITV’s Robert Peston said the latest figures suggested the country was ‘at or past the peak of the epidemic’ and other countries in the same situation, such as Denmark and Spain, were talking about how they would lift their restrictions.

Matt Hancock at today's press conferenceMatt Hancock at today's press conference
Matt Hancock at today's press conference

He challenged the UK Government to announce what the likely phases would be here when restrictions began to be lifted.

Prof Whitty said: “It’s probably reaching the peak overall,” but added he expected to see the number of confirmed deaths spike over the next few days after the long Bank Holiday weekend.

“We are not yet at the point where we can say confidently and safely ‘this is now past the peak and we can start thinking very much about the next phases’,” he said.

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More knowledge about the virus’ rate of transmission was critical to deciding how to proceed, he added.

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:: Changes are likely to be nationwide, rather than regional.

Asked whether different parts of the country would be treated differently given London was originally said to be ahead of the rest of the county in terms of the outbreak, Angela McLean said it was expected that the changes would be the same nationwide, as the lockdown had been introduced at the same time across the country.

The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 was lower in London, but this was likely to be due to people in the capital self-isolating earlier than the rest of the country because it had seen an early spike in cases.

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:: The Government does not have an end date in mind for the lockdown.

Matt Hancock said: “We cannot let up in our efforts. We cannot let go of the hard work that has been done so far.

“This shared sacrifice, and I know it is a sacrifice, is starting to work, but we will not lift these measures until it is safe to do so.

“Everyone who stays at home is doing their bit, protecting the NHS and saving lives.”

:: Ministers will discuss plans tomorrow.

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Asked whether the country would follow Northern Ireland’s example and announce an extension of the lockdown, Mr Hancock said: This is very much a matter for the decisions we’re going to take at Cobra (the committee which normally meets in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) tomorrow as the UK and it’s probaly best to leave it at that and say we will wait until the formal decision is taken tomorrow.”

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