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Reuters
Boris Johnson has said he does not want to impose a second national shutdown in the event of another Covid-19 outbreak.
Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph, the prime minister compared the option of a national closure to a “nuclear deterrent”, adding that he does not believe the country “will ever be in that position again.”
But the UK’s top scientific adviser said there is “a risk” that such measures may be necessary as winter approaches.
It occurs when councils in England have received “lightning” blocking powers.
Under the new powers, local authorities can close stores, cancel events, and close outdoor public spaces to manage local outbreaks.
Elsewhere, Scotland has seen the largest daily increase in new confirmed cases of coronavirus since June 21.
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Johnson said authorities were improving to identify and isolate local outbreaks, adding that the power to order national action will remain an option.
“I can’t abandon that tool any more than a nuclear deterrent would. But it’s like a nuclear deterrent, I certainly don’t want to use it. And I don’t think we’ll be in that position again either.” he said.
The prime minister told The Sunday Telegraph that experts were improving to detect the disease, isolate it locally and identify what groups it affects, and how.
“Now we are really able to see what is happening much closer to real time, isolate outbreaks and tackle them on the spot, and work with local authorities to contain the problem locally and regionally if necessary,” said Mr. Said Johnson.
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It comes after Johnson expressed hopes on Friday of a “significant return to normality” for Christmas.
Under the new guidelines, people can use public transportation to travel immediately, and employers will have more discretion to bring staff back to workplaces if it is safe to do so.
But chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned on Friday that “when winter comes, the challenges will be much greater and, of course, there is a risk that this too needs national action.”
At a glance: the latest changes in England
- Of July 25 Indoor gyms, pools, and other sports facilities may reopen
- In August 1 the government will update its tips for going to work, asking employers to make decisions about how and where their staff can work safely
- Starting on the same date, most of the remaining entertainment venues will be allowed to reopen, including bowling, skating rinks, casinos and all close contact services such as estheticians.
- Theater and live indoor concerts may resume with socially distant audiences
- Wedding receptions will also be allowed for up to 30 people starting next month
- Of September, schools, kindergartens and colleges will be open to all children and youth full time, while universities are also working to reopen as much as possible
- Of October, the government intends to allow the public to return to the stadiums, while conferences and other business events may resume, subject to the pilots’ result
And Professor John Edmunds, a member of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told the BBC’s Today program that the return to normal pre-closure was “very far away.”
He said activities like going to work normally, riding public transportation, going on vacation without restrictions, hugging and shaking hands with friends will not be back anytime soon.
“We won’t be able to do it until we are immune to the virus, which means until we have a vaccine that is safe and effective.”
“If we go back to that kind of normal behavior, the virus will come back very quickly,” he said.
An additional 40 coronavirus deaths were announced on Saturday, bringing the total number of people who died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK to 45,273.
A report released Tuesday warned that the UK could see nearly 120,000 new coronavirus deaths in a second wave of infections this winter in a “reasonable” worst-case scenario.
The estimate does not take into account any blockage, treatment or vaccine.
Delegated administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to set their own hours to ease restrictions.
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