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LONDON – After having a final round of drinks, queuing outside soon-to-be-closed shops, or getting a final haircut, England’s 56 million people entered a second coronavirus lockdown on Thursday with more doubts about the strict policy that the first time.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson abandoned a recently introduced system of regional restrictions and announced a closure across England, following dire warnings that hospitals could soon be overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. The death toll is reaching six-month highs.
But while opinion polls suggest general public support for the stay-at-home policy, concerns about the impact on the economy and on mental health are mounting. A sizable minority of 32 Conservative MPs voted against the measures on Wednesday.
READ: Johnson insists the new lockdown will end on December 2
When the country entered its first lockdown in the bright spring of March, support was strong. But compliance with coronavirus measures has been eroding as the winter progresses, as people’s livelihoods come under increased pressure.
“We will be paying this for years to come,” said Joe Curran, the owner of The Queen’s Head pub in the Soho area of central London. “This blockade will cost us thousands in addition to the thousands so far.”
A new study of more than 6,000 adults by King’s College London found that a quarter believed they had already contracted COVID-19 during the first wave, a much higher level of infection than government scientists estimate.
Many in the study stated that they were therefore immune and free to violate the blocking rules.
