Coronavirus: Boris Johnson says he does not want to return to the 'nuclear deterrent' of full lockdown

Boris Johnson has played down the prospect of a second national coronavirus lockdown as he compared enforcing the measures to using Britain's nuclear deterrent. The prime minister added that authorities are getting better at identifying and isolating local outbreaks, but said it was important that the power to order national action was held in reserve. He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'I can't abandon that tool any more than I would abandon a nuclear deterrent. 'But it is like a nuclear deterrent, I certainly don't want to use it, and nor do I think we will be in that position again.'