PRITI Patel addressed the nation tonight after Britain saw a record 1,820 Covid deaths announced yesterday.
The Home Secretary gave the public a final warning to stick to lockdown rules – or face an even tougher crackdown.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The press conference was held at 5pm on January 21.
The announcement came after a concerning study last night showed the start of lockdown has failed to drive down cases in the way it has in the past.
The Imperial College London study carried out swab tests on 142,900 volunteers between January 6 and 15, finding one in 63 people now have the virus in England.
This is a 50 per cent jump on the last report in December.
Home Secretary Priti Patel hosted the press conference, which started with an address to the nation.
Ministers are doing regular press conferences to keep the public updating during the third national lockdown – which is due to last until at least the middle of February.
She was accompanied by Martin Hewitt, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, and Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS England regional medical director for London.
The Home Secretary implored Brits to follow the rules and threatened even tougher action if the numbers don’t start to climb down.
She also announced fresh £800 fines for anyone attending illegal house parties – with repeat offenders facing fines of up to £6,400.
She said: “Next week we’ll intro a new £800 fine for those attending house parties, doubling for each repeat offence to max of £6,400.”
It will apply to any gatherings of more than 15 discovered by cops.
Ms Patel added: “The science is clear – such irresponsible behaviour poses a significant threat to public health.
“Not just to those in attendance but also to police offices who shut them down.”
Police chief Martin Hewitt said: “We have repeatedly made it clear that house parties and other large gatherings shouldn’t be happening.
“They’re dangerous, irresponsible and totally unacceptable and I hope that the likelihood of an increased fine acts as a disincentive for those people who are thinking of attending or organising such events.”
He revealed that 250 fixed penalty notices have been issued since late August to people who have organised large gatherings.
Earlier this week Ms Patel said it was a “long way” until restrictions can start to be lifted.
And Boris Johnson today warned that the new Covid strain is “much more contagious” when questioned whether the lockdown may not be eased until the summer.
The Prime Minister told reporters: “I think it’s too early to say when we’ll be able to lift some of the restrictions.
“We’ll look then (February 15) at how we’re doing but I think what we’re seeing in the ONS data, in the React survey, we’re seeing the contagiousness of the new variant that we saw arrive just before Christmas – there’s no doubt it does spread very fast indeed.
“It’s not more deadly but it is much more contagious and the numbers are very great.”
He said it is “absolutely crucial” to obey the current restrictions “in what is unquestionably going to be a tough few weeks ahead”.
You can watch the press conference on The Sun website at 5pm.
Alternatively, you can watch the announcement on the government’s official twitter account.
Follow our coronavirus blog to get the latest updates on the pandemic.
