Boris Johnson 'delays tougher lockdown': England could escape Covid tightening for now after science chief Patrick Vallance says current measures are 'enough' and Neil Ferguson points to 'plateau' in hospital cases

 

Boris Johnson is set to hold off tightening the rules despite soaring deaths and Nicola Sturgeon imposing extra curbs in Scotland, as experts welcomed a 'flattening' in the number of new infections. After the UK recorded its deadliest toll yet with 1,564 victims, chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance warned last night that the UK is in for a 'pretty grim period' as deaths will not fall for 'some weeks'. But he also indicated that the case rate was more encouraging, with a run of four days of week-on-week falls. Sir Patrick said it appeared the 'sorts of restrictions' in place now were 'enough to bring this virus under control'. Professor Neil Ferguson - whose modelling is reputed to have triggered the first lockdown in March - said this morning that the growth rate was slowing nationally, and in some NHS regions there were 'signs of plateauing'. The powerful Covid O Cabinet committee is due to meet today to consider the state of play, including signing off a travel ban from South America due to fears over an emerging super-strain in Brazil. However, it is not expected to ramp up the lockdown in England.