[ad_1]
The BBC reported that Liverpool would be the only city located in the top category, meaning that its pubs and restaurants would have to close, against the wishes of local authorities.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Image: AFP
LONDON – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a new three-tier alert system for coronavirus cases in England on Monday, and northwest Liverpool is expected to be the only city in the top category.
Like governments across Europe, Johnson’s conservative cabinet seeks to balance reducing the rate of new infections with concern for the economy and frustration among voters.
The new alert system, which will classify all areas as “medium”, “high” or “very high” risk, is an attempt to bring transparency and uniformity to the restrictions introduced to combat the spread of the disease.
The BBC reported that Liverpool would be the only city located in the top category, meaning that its pubs and restaurants would have to close, against the wishes of local authorities.
“This is a critical juncture and it is absolutely vital that everyone follows the clear guidance that we have set out to help contain the virus,” said a Downing Street spokesman.
British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Friday that he would pay up to two-thirds of monthly staff salaries to companies forced to close during the winter months under the new system’s highest level of lockdown.
Mayors representing several northern English cities, including Manchester and Liverpool, have said the new support falls short for those on minimum wages like bar staff and kitchen workers, and the self-employed like taxi drivers and the security guards.
Several urban centers in the north of England have already been hit by a number of restrictions on social life, such as a ban on mixing different households, but the south has escaped stricter restrictions for now.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own delegated governments and separate health systems. Pubs in central Scotland have closed for just over two weeks in an attempt to cut off close contact transmission.
Johnson will present the system in parliament Monday afternoon, and MPs will be called to vote on the measures later in the week, a source in his office said.
The national death toll from coronavirus in Britain is over 42,000, which is the worst in Europe.
On Sunday, 12,872 people in Britain were reported to have tested positive for coronavirus.
Download the EWN app on your iOS or Android device.
[ad_2]
