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Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a three-tier system that classifies areas of England by infection rates, to try to simplify a complex web of local restrictions.
FILE: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking at the House of Commons in central London. Image: AFP
LONDON – On Tuesday, the British government faced calls to impose another nationwide coronavirus lockdown after criticism that it had ignored expert advice three weeks ago for stricter restrictions to reduce the rise in infections.
Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer called for a 2-3 week “blackout” lockdown to cut rates, saying the government had “lost control” of the outbreak by ignoring strict measures suggested by experts. scientists on September 21.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told lawmakers that the government had failed to act on most items on a short list of possible virus interventions suggested by the scientific panel, including a national lockdown, because it had to consider the consequences. economic issues along with health impacts.
“We make decisions that are guided by science, taking into account all the different considerations that we have to take into account,” he told MPs as they prepared to vote on the latest and most limited package of measures put forward by Prime Minister Boris. Johnson on Monday.
Johnson announced a three-tier system that classifies areas of England by infection rates, to try to simplify a complex web of local restrictions.
The north-western city of Liverpool, the only place in the highest category, will see a ban on home mixing and bar closures starting Wednesday for at least four weeks.
However, England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty, who was accompanying Johnson at a press conference in Downing Street on Monday night, warned that he was “not sure” that the measures could reverse an upward trend he has seen. quadruple Covid-19 cases in the last three weeks.
Britain on Tuesday announced 143 more deaths of people who tested positive for the virus, the first time the announced daily toll has exceeded 100 since July.
A further 17,234 positive tests were also announced.
Whitty urged local leaders in the worst affected areas to go further.
“I don’t trust, nor does anyone trust, that the third-tier proposals for the highest rates … if we made the absolute base case, and nothing else, would be enough to overcome it,” Whitty said.
“There is a lot of flexibility in level three for local authorities … so that they can do much more than the absolute base because the base will not be enough.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that it is “inevitable” that the capital will pass a “trigger point” for new restrictions in the “coming days.”
‘CLEAR WINTER’
Johnson’s announcement was further undermined by the emergence of the details of advice from the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
Along with the circuit breaker measure, they had recommended closing bars, restaurants, cafes, gyms, and personal services like hair salons, banning different households from mixing in households, and changing all college and university tuition online.
However, the prime minister adopted only one of five recommendations: urging people to work from home.
His spokesman said Tuesday that Sage herself advises to consider the economic impact of any measures and the associated damages, noting: “and that is exactly what the prime” minister, the chancellor and their colleagues did. “
“The interventions we have carried out are working,” he added.
Starmer criticized the prime minister, saying another blockade was an opportunity to “reestablish and rectify some of the mistakes the government has made.”
“If we follow the science and break the loop, we can control this virus. If we don’t, we could sleepwalking into a long, bleak winter,” he said.
Britain’s death toll of more than 43,000 is the worst in Europe and hospital admissions are now higher than when the national lockdown was introduced on March 23.
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