Cabinet meeting readout - Mar 31

For the first time, Cabinet met entirely using videoconference today.

 

Ministers all appeared on a single digital screen, in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.

 

Only the Cabinet Secretary and a small number of officials were in the Cabinet room itself, observing social distancing rules on keeping two metres apart. 

 

Updates on the Government’s coronavirus response were given by videoconference by the Chief Scientific Advisor and the Chief Medical Officer.

 

Cabinet discussed the work which is taking place to support the NHS, expand testing, safeguard jobs and repatriate British citizens who are stranded abroad.

 

They thanked the NHS and frontline workers for all of their tremendous hard work.

 

The PM said the rising death toll in recent days showed the vital importance of the public continuing to stick to the social distancing guidance which has been put in place by the Government, based on scientific and medical advice.

 

The message to the public is: Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.

 

The PM said that the situation is going to get worse before it gets better - but it will get better.