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LONDON – London will move to the highest level of coronavirus restrictions due to concerns about the increasing number of infections, the health minister said.
The move from the British capital to “Level 3” from Wednesday means that theaters, pubs, restaurants and other entertainment venues will have to close, except for take away food.
People are not supposed to socialize with anyone outside their home, but they can gather in groups of up to six in public places outside.
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock said London had seen a “sharp increase” in daily cases and hospital admissions, and there was public health concern about a new strain of the coronavirus.
“This action is absolutely essential, not only to keep people safe, but because we have seen that early action can prevent further damage and long-term problems in the future,” he told parliament.
In some areas, cases are doubling every seven days, he said, warning: “It only takes a few duplications for the NHS (National Health Service) to be overwhelmed.”
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Scientists have identified a “new variant” of the virus in southern England that may be causing infections to spread faster, Hancock added.
But he said: “There is currently nothing to suggest that it is more likely to cause severe cases and the latest clinical advice is that it is highly unlikely that it will not respond to a vaccine.”
London is currently at “Level 2”, which means that nonessential shops and services can be opened, but it currently has one of the highest infection rates in the country.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan called the increase in cases “deeply concerning” but warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the move would be “catastrophic” for pubs, bars and art venues.
