Boris Johnson is to convene a Cobra crisis meeting involving Nicola Sturgeon and other devolved leaders on Tuesday as the UK prepares for nationwide lockdown restrictions to fight rising coronavirus infection figures.
The Prime Minister is to telephone the First Minister on Monday afternoon and also call the leaders of the Welsh and Northern Irish devolved governments ahead of the crisis meeting and a a possible televised address to the nation.
Downing Street confirmed the Cobra crisis management meeting involving all devolved leaders and UK Ministers will take place on Tuesday morning before the next steps in tackling the virus are announced.
In the fast-developing situation the Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “The PM spoke on Friday about is his concerns about a second wave, there was an update to the cabinet on Saturday, PM held more meetings with scientific advisors and colleagues yesterday. Today he will be engaging with devolved administrations."
The official told parliamentary reporters: "Let’s see where we get to and tomorrow morning is an opportunity for Cobra to discuss what next steps may be required in the coronavirus response.”
Nicola Sturgeon, other devolved leaders and Labour’s Keir Starmer called for the Prime Minister to bring in a co-ordinated response to the resurgent virus as the UKs chief scientific adviser warned that the country could see 50,000 new infections a day if no action is taken.
In a televised briefing to prepare the public for further social restrictions Patrick Vallance said “speed and action were needed or the infection rate “would be expected to lead to about 200 deaths per day” a month after that.
Speaking at the coronavirus briefing in Edinburgh Nicola Sturgeon said Scotland would go it alone with a lockdown if there was no co-ordinated UK measures.
She said: “I need to be absolutely straight with people across Scotland, that additional restrictions will almost certainly be put in place in Scotland over the next couple of days.
“Hopefully this will be with four-nations alignment, but if necessary it will have to happen without that.”
A full statement will be made to the Scottish Parliament about changes that will be put in Scotland either on Tuesday or Wednesday, the First Minister said.
