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The British Prime Minister, Boris johnsonannounced this Saturday a month-long national lockdown for England, from next Thursday until December 2, due to the alarming data of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This measure, which puts an end to the strategy of local restrictions that the British Conservative Government had opted for, will mean the forced closure of non-essential shops and businesses, as well as all the hospitality industry, although schools and universities will remain open.
Johnson’s announcement comes on the same day that the UK announced that exceeded one million confirmed cases in the laboratory since the pandemic broke out, with 21,915 new positives in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 1,011,660.
The prime minister justified the measure with the argument that if the closure does not take place now may collapse the British public health system (NHS), already under strong pressure due to the increase in cases in recent hours.
“Non-essential businesses and entertainment venues will close, and pubs and restaurants will have to close except to serve food at home, “Johnson said, before noting that workplaces for people who cannot work from home, such as construction, will remain open.
It will not be, he explained, such a restrictive confinement like last spring, but it will mean that citizens are not allowed to leave their homes other than for reasons of education, work or essential purchases.
One hour a day of exercise and contact with a single person from another home will also be allowed. All this with the aim, he added, that “with these measures, we are able to allow families to reunite in the next Christmas holidays.”
The British prime minister was part of a million cases when, between March and April, he became hospitalized for Covid-19. (Photo: Efe)
Job preservation program
The head of the Government added that it will be extended the job preservation program, which was to expire this Saturday, for a month, until December.
The plan will be sent to Parliament next Monday, for a vote on Wednesday and its entry into force at midnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
In fact, the prime minister was forced to advance an announcement he planned to make Monday in an appearance before the House of Commons, due to the leak of his plans late on Friday.
After the end of this new confinement, “We will try to ease the restrictions, returning to the system by local and regional levels, according to the latest data and trends, “he added.
School operation and hospital situation
Although the teachers’ unions have already shown their differences with the opening of schools, Johnson insisted that “school is the best place for children, we cannot let the virus damage their future. “
The prime minister wanted to give reasons for hope when declaring “optimistic” about the evolution of the pandemic for spring, since now there is the prospect of “using millions of rapid and reliable tests”.
Therefore, in the coming days the authorities will deploy a “massive expansion” of Covid-19 tests.
In the same appearance before the media, the Government’s main medical adviser, Chris Whitty, He said there are now several hospitals in England with more Covid patients admitted to them than during the peak last spring.
If the numbers continue to grow at this rate, “throughout winter there is a potential risk that deaths will double, or more, than in spring, “said the chief of the Executive’s scientific advisers, Patrick Vallance.
