UK: Tougher lockdowns considered 'with curfews, exercise limits, compulsory masks outside, no support bubbles...'

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9131613/Is-lockdown-TOUGHER-Matt-Hancock-refuses-rule-curfews-closing-nurseries.html

- January 11, 2021

• The Cabinet Office refused to deny that the draconian new laws were incoming after UK's streets were busy
• They instead pointed to Matt Hancock's vague statement on rules earlier today: 'Follow the rules we've got'
• Hancock refused to speculate when asked if harsher measures coming, such as curfews and closing nurseries
• Whitehall source said potential changes included introducing ban on people leaving their homes more than once a week

Boris Johnson met cabinet colleagues last night to discuss an even-tougher lockdown with limits on exercise, compulsory mask-wearing outdoors and a ban on social bubbles all being considered by ministers, sources claim.

The Cabinet Office refused to deny that draconian new laws were coming - and instead pointed to Matt Hancock's vague statement earlier today. 

The Health Secretary refused to speculate when directly asked if harsher measures - including curfews and nursery closures - might be brought in, and instead said Britons should 'follow the rules that we've got'.

One Whitehall source told MailOnline that the changes discussed today even included introducing a ban on people leaving their homes more than once a week. Under current rules, Britons can exercise with one other person or with their household or support bubble.

But a Government source said the rule is 'being used as an excuse for people to go for a coffee in the park with their friends' and could be tightened, The Daily Telegraph reports.  

The UK announced a further 573 coronavirus deaths yesterday in the highest Sunday rise since April, and the third-deadliest Sunday of the entire pandemic as it emerged as many as one in five of all people in England may have had coronavirus, new modelling by Edge Health claims. It could be as high as one in two people in some areas of east London and Essex, the research says.  

Infections also continue to be high, with 54,940 announced on Sunday - the thirteenth day in a row they have been above the 50,000 mark. 

Crowds of people were seen flocking to beaches and town centres today despite Boris Johnson's pleas for families to stay at home as coronavirus hospital deaths hit 563 - the highest Sunday toll in eight months. Pictured: Visitors on Tynemouth Longsands beach

Big crowds were seen walking through Victoria Park in east London yesterday

Masses of people were spotted walking through Victoria Park in east London yesterday

Boris Johnson (pictured) held a meeting to discuss an even-tougher lockdown with limits on exercise, compulsory mask-wearing outdoors and no more social bubbles all being floated by ministers, sources claim