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The biggest relaxation of confinement restrictions in England, scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed for at least two weeks, after an increase in coronavirus cases.
Casinos and bowling alleys will remain closed, as Boris Johnson said it was time to “hit the brake pedal.”
Facial coatings will be mandatory in more interior settings, such as movie theaters.
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, warned that the UK may have reached its limits in easing restrictions.
Appearing alongside the Prime Minister at a special Downing Street briefing, Professor Whitty said the “idea that we can open everything and keep the virus under control” is wrong.
When asked if it was safe for schools in England to reopen all students completely in the fall, he said it was a “difficult balancing act” but “we have probably come close to the limit, or the limits, of what we can do in terms of opening up society. “
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Speaking at the briefing, Johnson said that the planned changes in targeting for those who have been protecting themselves during the pandemic, and advice to employers, will continue.
The rethink to ease the blockade in England follows new restrictions for people in parts of northern England, after an increase in virus cases.
The prime minister said progress in the fight against the coronavirus continues, with the daily and weekly decline in deaths, but warned that some European countries are “fighting” to control it. The UK must be ready to “react,” he said.
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Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday suggest that infection rates in England are increasing, with around 4,200 new infections per day, compared to 3,200 a week ago.
The ONS daily case estimates, based on a sample of households completing swab tests, are higher than the numbers of laboratory confirmed cases reported by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) because they include people without symptoms who otherwise they would not have requested a test.
Highlighting the ONS figures, Johnson added: “The prevalence of the virus in the community in England is likely to increase for the first time since May.”
He said that with the “numbers increasing” it was time to “hit the brake pedal to keep the virus under control.”
He urged people to “follow the rules, wash our hands, cover our faces, keep our distance, and get tested if we have symptoms,” summing up the advice with the slogan, “Hands, face, space, get tested.”
Meanwhile, another 120 people died from the virus in the UK according to the latest DHSC figures, while 880 new laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported.
Cases in England are increasing for the first time since May.
ONS data suggests there are around 4,200 new infections per day compared to 3,200 a week ago.
This is not a return to the height of the epidemic in March, but it is revealing.
Every restriction we loosen increases the spread of the coronavirus, and government scientific advisers have always warned that there was not much leeway to lift the restrictions and still remove them.
The increase in infections is a warning that we have already exceeded the elevation block limit.
That is why Boris Johnson has delayed part of the planned lifting of restrictions in England, and face masks will become a more frequent sight.
The big question remains around schools. If current rules are leading to an increase in cases, can we open schools too? If we open schools, will we have to close something else?
It’s worth noting that all of this is happening in July, and scientists suspect that the virus will spread even more easily in the winter months.
You can read more of James here.
Johnson said the planned reopening of “higher risk environments” on August 1 would be delayed by at least a fortnight.
This means that the following cannot take place until August 15, at the earliest:
- the reopening of casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and close contact services
- indoor performances
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pilots of large meetings in sports facilities and conference centers.
- Expansion of wedding receptions to allow up to 30 people.
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beauty treatments involving the face, such as eyelash, eyebrow and threading treatments
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Fans will no longer be able to attend pilot sporting events scheduled for this weekend in England
Fans attended the Snooker World Championship when it started on Friday as part of a pilot to test the return of larger crowds to sports venues. The tournament will now continue without spectators until at least August 15, which is when the final is scheduled to begin.
Wedding sector ‘itching to return’
Neil White, 51, of Chorley in Lancashire, owns a wedding photography business. Of the 44 weddings I had scheduled for this year, only three reservations remain: “I think I speak for the rest of the wedding industry because there is a lot of worry and stress about the future,” he said.
White said that while companies like pubs and restaurants have been able to reopen, those in the wedding sector “appear to have been dragged under the rug” despite being “eager to get back to work.”
“If it continues until next year, there are many companies that are going to close,” he added.
The British Beauty Council said the changes were “very disappointing for a sector that has already seen delays after delays in reopening.”
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Separately, face linings will be mandatory in more closed environments where people are likely to come in contact with people they don’t know, such as museums and places of worship, next weekend. They are already required in stores, banks, airports, and other indoor transportation hubs.
The prime minister said the rules for covering his face would be required by law starting August 8.
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However, he said the plan to pause protection for those most vulnerable to the virus will continue from Saturday.
That means that around 2.2 million people who have self-isolated in England during the pandemic can return to work, if they can’t work from home, as long as their workplace is safe for Covid.
The guidance for employers will also change, as planned, from early August, Johnson said.
The latest announcement came shortly after new blocking rules were introduced in parts of the north of England, including Greater Manchester, eastern Lancashire, and parts of West Yorkshire. The rules include a ban on separate homes from meeting inside their private homes and gardens.
The changes come as Muslim communities prepare to celebrate Eid this weekend, and almost four weeks after restrictions across England were eased, allowing people to gather indoors for the first time since the late of March.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government had made the “right decision” regarding the new rules for parts of northern England, but urged it to “improve” what it called “extremely poor” communication.
Ministers have said that police forces and councils will have powers to enforce the new rules.
In other key developments:
- Leicester pubs and restaurants, which saw the UK’s first local shutdown, will reopen starting Monday as a series of restrictions are lifted in the city
- A 14-year-old girl is being treated for a life-threatening illness after her family “seriously neglected her” during the lockdown. The Family Division of the Superior Court has been asked to intervene to care for the girl
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Thousands of people descended on the beaches of Bournemouth, Brighton and Poole, prompting some local councils to warn hikers to stay away.
- Congressman Tory Craig Whittaker has defended his claim that some Muslims in West Yorkshire “are not taking the pandemic seriously”
Are you going to get married this weekend? Or were you reopening your business? How will the postponement affect you? Share your experiences by email [email protected].
Include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.
