FOLLOW ME, SAYS DOLLY THE SHEEP, AS TOWN TAKES TO FORUMS TO WARN OFF 'IDIOTS' WITH UK DEATH TOLL HEADING TO 8,000

ATHERSTONE has been told "not let the side down" by breaking a coronavirus lockdown and instead enjoy predicted Easter bank holiday sunshine with a back-garden barbecue this weekend.

Locals joined Government ministers in pleading for sense to prevail to protect the NHS as a police chief warned his force was a "few days away" from introducing measures such as road blocks and searching shopping trolleys as people in parts of the UK continue to flout the Government regulations.

And for once, townsfolk were even urged to "follow the sheep" – with Dolly's message that staying home and social distancing helps to saves lives.

Forum followers confirmed a virus peak of hospital admissions was "expected" as a Dominic Raab-led Cabinet was set to discuss how much longer restrictions need to be in place.

The Cobra committee was meeting this afternoon as an "improving" Boris Johnson faces a fourth day in intensive care where is said to be sitting up in bed and "engaging" with hospital staff.

It comes after Wednesday saw the nation's biggest surge in deaths among Covid-19 patients to date, with 938 hospital fatalities reported in the previous 24 hours – the toll being higher than even Italy's single-day worst tally of 911.

And today's England-only number of deaths rose by 765, which means the overall total will be "at least" 7,862. More than 3,600 lives have been lost in the last five days.

With temperatures on Friday and Saturday set to reach a sunny 73F in the Atherstone area, those tempted to soak up the rays in a public place were warned by Philomena Williamson: "As long as stupid idiots keep going out, the restrictions will never drop."

Her advice: "If the weather is nice, have a BBQ in your garden."

Dawn Franklin Baxter, who borrowed a phrase from TV's Mrs Brown, added: "Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.

"It's not feckin hard is it."

Lauren Elizabeth said: "While we are expecting higher numbers across Warwickshire (and more need to be extra vigilant) with a peak is expected nationally in the coming days and weeks, the message should be simply stay at home."

Anna Marshall posted on Atherstone People's Forum: "Just abide by the recommendations and keep Atherstone clean .

"Don't go out and let the side down."

People are being urged to stay at home over Easter by the National Trust in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The Easter weekend would traditionally see hundreds of thousands of people flock to its properties, gardens and beauty spots.

But all 500 are closed as the country remains in lockdown as part of strict measures to control the outbreak.

Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley said a "three-week grace period" is over in the county – and the force will now be issuing fines and arresting people breaking coronavirus rules.

He said further measures will also be implemented should people continue to flout the regulations – including "marshalling" supermarkets and checking the items in baskets and trolleys.

CC Adderley said forces are "damned if you do, damned if you don't" when it comes to policing the new rules, and he added that Government guidance on how to police the rules "could be even clearer".

He said: "I really need to emphasise the point, this is about saving people's lives, this is the really serious end of what we do."

Boris Johnson ordered the country to baton down on March 23, with restrictions originally in place until Easter Monday.

But with the UK's outbreak still to peak, no decision on the UK's lockdown measures will be made at today's Cobra meeting, it has emerged.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said the announcement would come next week and it was unlikely lockdown measures would change now that they are beginning to make a difference to the outbreak.

Urging the public to stay home this Easter weekend, he told Sky News: "The Government is receiving evidence and information all the time through its scientific advisory group,"

"We will be analysing that evidence and determining the appropriate stage at which to either enhance or change the measures. "I have to emphasise at this stage, just at the moment where we feel we are beginning to make some progress with it, it's essential that people stick with this guidance now and stay at home." Countries across Europe are cautiously starting to ease lockdown measures. This week, Austria, Denmark, Norway and the Czech Republic have all moved to relax their quarantines. Small shops will open in Austria and Czech Republic, and schools in Denmark will re-open on Wednesday.

German health minister Jens Spahn suggested there could be "a gradual return to normality" after Easter if the current positive trend in numbers continues.

Reports in Italy suggest restrictions could be eased on May 4

Public opinion in the UK has remained very supportive of the tough restrictions with between 80 and 94 per cent of people broadly in favour, according to a YouGov poll.

But the percentage of people who think the threat is "not being taken seriously enough" dipped alarmingly from 87 per cent to 52 per cent over the past week, the survey said.

The national mood tracker revealed drink sales have spiked, not surprisingly, and millions say they were finding it "very hard". Some 38 per cent of those questioned are sleeping badly and more than a third eating poorly.