[ad_1]
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 sneak in undetected.
“The virus has shown to spread again exponentially. Infections have increased, hospital admissions are increasing. “
Businesses will face £ 10,000 fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules, and people risk being fined £ 200 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 necessary 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 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. “
Restrictions
Johnson set out measures for England in the House of Commons today, 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, imposing a ban on home visiting 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 government said another 37 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday.
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 staff and people providing essential services must continue to attend their workplaces.
– As of Thursday, pubs, bars and restaurants will be table-service only and hospitality, leisure and entertainment venues will be subject to a closing time at 10:00 p.m. Take out will also be closed from 10 pm to 5 am, although they will be allowed to deliver.
No news is bad news
Support the magazine
your contributions help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you
Support us now
– Taxi passengers will be required to cover their faces starting Wednesday and for retail staff and hospitality customers, except when they sit down to eat or drink, starting Thursday.
– Covid’s security guidelines will become legal obligations for retail, leisure and tourism businesses, and businesses will face the risk of fines or closure for failing to comply.
– As of Monday, a maximum of 15 people will be allowed to attend wedding ceremonies and receptions.
– Starting Thursday, the rule of six will be extended to cover indoor team sports, such as indoor soccer games.
– Plans to allow business conferences and crowds at sporting events starting October 1 have been shelved.
‘National crisis’
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.
Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said there was a question whether the measures announced by the prime minister would be “in themselves sufficient to reverse the increase in cases as we move into the fall.”
Professor Hunter added: “It is doubtful that the measures currently being enacted will be sufficient to bring the R-value below one long before this side of Christmas.”
The government faced renewed calls to do more to support business, and the hotel industry warned that the new restrictions would be a “devastating blow”.
[ad_2]