Coronavirus: Opposition parties warn government is 'playing catch-up' and must be honest with population

Boris Johnson U-turn on refusal to ban mass gatherings as other countries follow international advice

Opposition parties have warned that the government does not look "fully in control" of the coronavirus situation after it appeared to U-turn on whether to take action to stop mass gatherings.

Labour said ministers had a duty to "be clear with people" about their strategy, while the Liberal Democrats accused Boris Johnson of "playing catch-up with the rest of British society".

Going into the weekend the government said it would go ahead with a ban on big events after spending the week downplaying the usefulness of such measures. It follows a string of independent decisions by organisers of events like the Premier League and London Marathon to call off their events on their own accord.

The government's chief scientific advisors have said alternately that implementing widespread "social distancing" policies now could either have little effect, or undermine efforts to build "herd immunity" among the British population.

But with the UK increasingly isolated in Europe as one of the few states not to bring in tough measures, Whitehall sources say some restrictions will likely come in from next week – though details are yet to follow.

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the EU's European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) recommended the rapid implementation of social distancing measures last week, while most of Britain's neighbours like Ireland, France, Denmark and Belgium have followed the international advice.

A ban on mass gatherings would still represent limited action: across the Channel in Belgium all restaurants, bars, and clubs were ordered to close at 10.30pm on Friday and not reopen for two weeks. Shops will have their opening hours restricted, and schools will be shut, while people who can work from home have been told to do so.

But The Times newspaper reports that ministers could go further and bring in sweeping powers to allow police to detain infected people. Care homes could also be allowed to relax standards to deal with staff shortages.

Addressing the UK government's change of policy, Ed Davey, the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, told the BBC: "It's a surprisingly rapid change from yesterday's position and there is a slight danger that the government doesn't look like it's fully in control because of that.

"Nevertheless we've seen those people who host sporting events, Premier League clubs, motor racing, taking their own decisions and it does look a little bit like government's playing catch up with the rest of British society."

Labour's shadow health secretary John Ashworth meanwhile welcomed the policy change, but called on the government to be more transparent about how it was making its decisions.

Now that they've moved into the delay phase, and I welcome that, I've suggested they also need to move into the explain phase

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's shadow health secretary

"Now that they've moved into the delay phase, and I welcome that, I've suggested they also need to move into the explain phase," he said.

"We are acting responsibly as an opposition, but I have to be frank with you - when members of the public are getting in touch with us, raising their concerns, telling us that they don't think there's enough information coming out, asking us questions which I believe are legitimate questions about why is Ireland going down on particularly route and France going down one particular route and we are not – I think we have a duty as an opposition to be raising those concerns and asking the government to clarify that position for us.

"I do think it's incumbent upon the government be clear with people. If that means publishing the scientific modelling so that all the experts can analyse it and peer review it and stress test it, if that maintains public confidence that's an important step, I believe."

The shift by the government to shut down public events is expected to be justified on the grounds of the burden put on public services, including the hard-pressed NHS and the police.

Mr Ashworth said the move was "an entirely reasonable point of view from the government because every big event has to be supported by police officers, supported by paramedics" which would now be freed up to help with the outbreak.

But he questioned the behavioural science behind the initial idea that banning gatherings could make the situation worse by driving people to congregate elsewhere.

"I don't know if you've ever been to a football game but plenty of the fans tend to go to the pub before the game and after the game," he said.

"When you have big events people do congregate in pubs and restaurants and cafes. If the government were saying that's the worst thing that would happen: people would go to pubs and restaurants and cafes... well they do it anyway."

UK officials have confirmed 798 cases of COVID-19 – an increase of 208 in 24 hours. Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 11 with the first fatality to be announced in Scotland.

Public Health England has recommended the sick stay clear of care homes but fell short of an outright ban on visitors, while mayoral and local elections have been suspended by a year. Parliament will limit visitors from Monday and reduce overseas travel for MPs, while airlines like British Airways have warned of job losses.