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The UK is facing an “unquestionably difficult” winter, Boris Johnson warned after announcing restrictions on the coronavirus that could last six months.
The British prime minister laid out a package of measures for England, with office staff once again working from home, the wider use of face masks and a 10pm curfew in pubs and restaurants.
He said the new restrictions could continue well beyond Christmas and New Years unless progress was made in controlling the spread of the virus, noting that stricter restrictions could be imposed if they failed.
Johnson used a televised speech to the nation to plead with people to follow the new rules, claiming that earlier restriction violations by “freedom-loving” Britons had helped bring the virus back.
The new package of measures, and similar or stricter measures in other parts of the UK, followed warnings from scientists that the number of cases was doubling every seven days.
Johnson said: “While the vast majority have played by the rules, there have been too many infractions, too many opportunities for our invisible enemy to escape undetected.
“The virus has shown to spread again exponentially. Infections have increased, hospital admissions are increasing. “
Fines
Businesses will face £ 10,000 (€ 10,900) fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules, and people risk being fined £ 200 (€ 218) for not wearing masks or violating the ‘rule of six ”.
The military could be used to free police officers to tackle coronavirus rule breakers.
Johnson said he was “deeply and spiritually reluctant” to infringe on people’s freedoms, but unless action is taken now, tougher action will be needed later “when deaths have already increased.”
If people do not follow the new rules that we have established, “we must reserve the right to go further.”
But Johnson ended his televised address with a plea for a “spirit of togetherness,” for the country to get through the months to come.
“If we follow these simple rules together, we will spend this winter together,” he said. “Unquestionably, difficult months will come.
“And the fight against Covid is by no means over. However, I have no doubt that great days await us. “
Johnson set out measures for England in the House of Commons on Tuesday, but stressed that all parts of the UK were united in the need for decisive action to prevent the virus from spiraling out of control.
In Scotland, Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon went further and imposed a ban on home visits from Wednesday.
And he suggested that the stricter measures may mean they don’t have to be in place as long as restrictions are in place in England.
Johnson said the UK had reached “a dangerous tipping point” in the face of a second wave of Covid-19 cases.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK surpassed 400,000, with another 4,926 laboratory-confirmed cases as of 9am on Tuesday.
The British government said another 37 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday.
England
The measures to be introduced in England in the coming days include:
–Asking office workers who can, to work from home, although construction workers, retail personnel and people providing essential services must continue to attend their workplaces.
–As of Thursday, the pubs, bars and restaurants will be only with table service and the places of hospitality, leisure and entertainment will be subject to a closing time at 22:00. Take out will also be closed from 10 pm to 5 am, although they will be allowed to deliver.
–Taxi passengers must cover their faces as of Wednesday and for retail personnel and hospitality customers, except when they are sitting down to eat or drink, as of Thursday.
–Covid’s security guidelines will become legal obligations for retail, leisure and tourism companies, and companies will face the risk of fines or closure for not complying with them.
–As of Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be allowed to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.
–As of Thursday, the rule of six will be extended to cover indoor team sports, such as futsal games.
– Plans have been shelved to allow business conferences and crowds at sporting events starting October 1.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said families were concerned that “the government does not have a strategy” and “this is a time of national crisis, but we need clear leadership.”
Johnson was also questioned about the problem of the NHS Test and Trace system, run by Baroness Harding, a fellow conservative, but insisted it was “silly” to blame that for the growing number of cases.
“Testing and tracing have little or nothing to do with the spread or transmission of the disease,” he said. – PA
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