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Saturday October 31, 2020
The UK has long been divided over the crown’s strategy. While Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales reacted early to the high level of contagion, the British Prime Minister hesitated for a long time. Now Johnson has imposed a blockade on England after all: the increases are too alarming.
In light of the dramatically rising number of corona infections, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced another shutdown for England. This starts Thursday and should last until Dec. 2, Johnson said in a televised speech that night. Schools must remain open during this time. “Now is the time to act because there is no alternative,” Johnson said. The coronavirus is spreading “even faster than the worst-case scenario from scientific advisers.” Immediately before the announcement of the new lockdown, the number of corona infection cases in Britain had passed the one million threshold, after nearly 22,000 new infections were reported in 24 hours.
After the first national shutdown in March, the Prime Minister had so far refused to take such a move again. Instead, it relied on regional restrictions based on a three-stage warning system. However, experts had been warning for days that these measures were no longer sufficient to contain the rapid spread of the corona virus.
Britain has the highest number of corona deaths in Europe with more than 46,000 deaths. According to the British Statistical Office, there are currently more than 50,000 new cases of infection in England alone.
The pressure on Johnson grows
According to experts, even the bleakest corona forecasts will be exceeded: As documents from the government’s scientific advisory group on emergencies (Sage) show, the number of infected people and hospital admissions could even exceed estimates for the worst case. The worst-case scenario resolved in July led to another 85,000 deaths in a second wave of winter infections.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own rules. Much stricter temporary crown measures already exist there than in England. In order to financially cushion the closures of the affected companies, Johnson announced an extension of the “Furlough” program, which is similar to German short-time work. In reality, this should expire at the end of October and be replaced by a less generous support program.
