Councils in England will gain new powers starting Saturday to force owners to close bars, cafes, shops and restaurants in areas affected by outbreaks of coronavirus.
Boris Johnson said local authorities could also close public places, such as parks, and cancel events.
And he announced that the government will issue “stay-at-home orders” where there are local outbreaks starting next month.
This would prevent people from leaving defined areas and restrict the use of public transportation until infection rates decrease.
During a press conference on Downing Street, the prime minister announced the next range of government measures aimed at restarting the economy while keeping the rate of coronavirus infection low.
He said employers would have more discretion about asking people to return to workplaces, while indoor performance events would restart from August.
Johnson said that greater powers for local authorities would allow them “to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount,” in what he called “lightning strikes.”
County councils and unit authorities will no longer have to obtain a magistrate’s permission to close contaminated facilities that are not considered part of the “essential infrastructure” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Government guidance says this “significantly” increases the powers of the councils and urges them to use them “discreetly.”
There will be a right of appeal for affected companies and local blockades must be reviewed weekly.
Johnson said: “The action of local councils will not always suffice, so next week we will publish a draft regulation on how the central government can intervene more effectively at the local level.”
“When the evidence warrants, ministers may close entire sectors or types of premises in an area, introduce local orders to stay home, prevent people from entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the size of meetings beyond Defined national rules or restrict transportation systems that serve local areas. ”
Analysis
By Jessica Parker, Political Correspondent
A more localized approach, when it comes to addressing Covid, has been around for some time.
But Boris Johnson is also pointing to a tougher approach: new powers for councils and also for ministers.
One of those powers for the central government is quite surprising: the ability to prevent people from entering or leaving defined areas.
Because efforts to jump-start the economy mean the blockade is loosening overall, the government is trying to harden its ability to fight local outbreaks.
James Jamieson, president of the Association of Local Governments, which represents councils in England, said: “Greater powers for councils to take swift and effective action to tackle local outbreaks will help avoid the need for more stringent measures than impose locally. “
But John Phillips, acting secretary general of the GMB union, said: “The prime minister has once again demonstrated leadership failure in the face of this pandemic.”
“Passing the responsibility of keeping people safe to employers and local authorities is confusing and dangerous.”
The latest government measures follow the imposition of a blockade in Leicester after an increase in coronavirus infections in the city.
On Thursday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said some restrictions would be lifted after a drop in cases.
The Mayor of Labor in London Sadiq Khan said he had no “confidence that we could have a geographical closure in London,” but added: “We could probably close a building, whether it is a factory, a place of worship or a school. ” “
