The Government needs to provide people with more financial and practical help and they need to do it now. Liberal Democrats say Government must stop gambling with the lives of British public.

"The new scientific evidence given at today's COVID-19 press conference is sobering and shows why everyone needs to continue in their efforts to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. We can never say 'thank you' often enough to the amazing front line staff who are doing so much to tackle this virus," says Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP.

"We have also seen over the past 24 hours Ministers hinting at offering financial support to those who test positive. The scientific evidence on this is clear, supporting those who need it most to isolate is one the most effective ways to stop the virus spreading. The Government needs to provide people with more financial and practical help and they need to do it now.

"This new evidence means it is now so important that we learn the lessons of the pandemic as quickly as possible to ensure that the Government gets the best solution to our problems and as often as possible, gets them right first time. That is why the public inquiry the Government promised needs to start now. The science says getting things wrong will now be even more deadly than it has been so far, the Government can't afford to go on gambling with the lives of the British public."