Matt Hancock orders Brits not to break coronavirus lockdown during weekend heatwave: If we relax our discipline people will die
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has begged Britons to stay at home this weekend as the UK is set for a mini-heatwave.
Mr Hancock told a press conference at Downing Street: "We can not relax our discipline now, if we do people will die."
Ruth May, chief nurse at Nightingale Hospital, asked Britons to remember the two registered nurses who have died when deciding whether to go out this weekend.
It comes as the Department of Health confirmed 684 more people have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total deaths in the UK to 3,605.
During the press conference, Mr Hancock gave an “instruction” for people to continue to stay at home this weekend, even if the weather proves good.
He said: “We are set for a warm weekend in some parts of the country.
“But the disease is still spreading and we absolutely cannot afford to relax the social distancing measures we have in place.
“We cannot relax our discipline now. If we do, people will die.
“I end with the advice we all know. This advice is not a request – it is an instruction.
“Stay at home, protect lives and then you will be doing your part.”
England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May has urged members of the public not to be tempted to go outside in the forecast sunny weather this weekend and remember the two nurses who died after contracting Covid-19.
Two nurses, Areema Nasreen and Aimee O’Rourke, both in their 30s, have died after contracting the virus.
In the daily Downing Street press conference, Ms May said: “This weekend is going to be very warm and it will be very tempting to go out and enjoy those summer rays.
“But please, I ask to remember Aimee and Areema. Please stay at home for them.”
Ms May expressed her condolences to their families, friends and colleagues and said she feared further nurses will die.
She said: “They were one of us, they were one of my profession, of the NHS family. I worry that there’s going to be more and I want to honour them today and recognise their service.”
