COBRA Meeting To Review COVID-19 Lockdown Measures

The Government's COBRA emergency committee will meet this morning to discuss whether coronavirus lockdown measures should be extended. 

Ministers have raised the prospect of continuing the lockdown beyond next week to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Evidence and data from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies will guide the meeting, which will be chaired by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

Mr Raab is deputising for the Prime Minister who has spent a third night in intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital in London.

Last night, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said Boris Johnson was "improving" and "sitting up in bed". Further updates on the PM's health are expected later.

The three-week lockdown period, which commenced on 23 March, is set to end next week, however, a Cabinet minister has said the measures are likely to be extended. 

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told BBC News: “I don’t think it’s very likely these measures are going to be changed given they’re just starting to have an effect but, as we said, we would review them.

“It’s only prudent that on an ongoing basis we review them after three weeks.”

Mr Dowden also urged the public to stay at home during the Easter weekend with fears warm temperatures could tempt people to break the restrictions. 

On Wednesday, the UK recorded its highest number of coronavirus deaths in a single day - 938.

Cover image: London skyline (Picture: PA).