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BORIS JOHNSON HAS ordered a new national lockdown for England, meaning that people will only be able to leave their homes for limited reasons, and the measures are expected to remain in effect until mid-February.
In a speech to the British nation, he said the new variant, which is 50-70% more transmissible, was spreading in a “frustrating and alarming” way.
“As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic,” he said.
Johnson also announced that he would close all schools until mid-February.
The blockade will become law as soon as possible, but Johnson urged the public to follow the rules immediately.
Johnson’s statement came after medical directors for the first time raised the UK to the highest level in the Covid-19 alert system.
They warned that the NHS runs the risk of being overwhelmed in 21 days “in several areas” without further action.
Restrictions are unlikely to be eased until around 13 million people over the age of 70 or classified as clinically extremely vulnerable have been vaccinated and given enough time to be protected, a period of about two to three weeks after receiving the vaccine.
Strong stay-at-home messages will return, and exit will only be allowed for limited exceptions, such as purchasing essentials, including food and medicine.
Parliament will be convened on Wednesday so that deputies can debate the measures.
A spokesman for No. 10 previously said the move was in response to the “rapidly increasing” number of infections following the emergence of the new variant.
A spokesperson for Issue 10 said: “The spread of the new variant of Covid-19 has caused a rapid increase in the number of cases across the country.
“The Prime Minister is clear that further action must now be taken to stop this increase and protect the NHS and save lives.”
The move came after Nicola Sturgeon announced that Scotland will be closed for the rest of January with a legal requirement to stay home and schools closed for most pupils until February.
Setting out the measures that will take effect from tomorrow, the Prime Minister told MSPs in Holyrood: “It is no exaggeration to say that I am more concerned about the situation we are facing now than at any time since March last year.”
Earlier, during a visit to a vaccination center in North London, Johnson acknowledged that “there was no question” that further action would be necessary as cases continue to rise across the country.
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The latest data shows a 41% increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus patients in a hospital in England between Christmas Day and January 3, figures that have caused alarm in Whitehall and the health service.
As ministers hailed the launch of the new Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Johnson warned that the nation needed to prepare for some “tough” weeks ahead, as the vaccine spread to the most vulnerable.
With 78% of England’s population already under the current strictest restrictions, ministers have been examining the success of the Level 4 measures, which first came into effect on December 20.
With reporting by Órla Ryan
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