Boris Johnson says life-and-death decisions over Covid would have troubled wise old King Solomon

LIFE-and-death decisions over Covid would have troubled wise old King Solomon, Boris Johnson has claimed.

No10 officials are considering the prospect of a further lockdown next month as millions wake today under tough Tier 4 restrictions.

In a letter seen by Trending In The News thanking Whitehall chiefs for their service this year, Mr Johnson said only a “colossal effort” had averted a potential disaster.

He said fighting the virus has meant “some of the toughest decisions — indeed Solomonic judgments — that any of us have ever had to take.” Solomon, the Old Testament King of Israel, was renowned for his God-given wisdom.

It follows a series of tough decisions by the PM, the latest sparked by a jump in cases caused by the new mutant Covid. He had wanted a five-day relaxation of social restrictions so people could meet indoors at Christmas but was forced into the “very tough” call to axe it to one day amid fears get-togethers would see infections rocket further. 

Millions had to spend Christmas Day alone.

Residents already in Tier 4 areas — such as the South East and London — could not lawfully meet others outside their household or support bubbles.

Six million more were added to Tier 4 at 00.01am today meaning 24million people, or 43 per cent of England’s population, are in lockdown in all but name.

Mr Johnson said on Thursday that tougher restrictions may be needed to prevent the mutant strain “running out of control”. 

He refused to rule out using January for a third national lockdown, saying it would be a “tough period.” He added: “As much as I regret that, I do think it is necessary for us to drive down this virus now to stop it running out of control.

“We need to buy ourselves time to get the vaccine into as many arms of the elderly and vulnerable as we can.”