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Boris Johnson warns that a second wave of coronavirus has arrived in the UK as scientists reported the “widespread growth” of the virus across the country.
The UK government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said the R number, which represents the number of people to whom an infected person will transmit the virus, has risen to between 1.1 and 1.4, which which means that cases could increase very quickly.
As UK ministers announced tough new restrictions affecting 13.5 million people, Prime Minister Johnson said they would “keep everything under review.”
There is no doubt, as I have said for several weeks now, that we could wait (and) now we are seeing the arrival of a second wave.
“There is no question, as I have said for several weeks, that we could expect (and) now we are seeing a second wave coming,” he told reporters during a visit to the construction site of the Center for Vaccine Manufacturing Innovation near Oxford. .
“We are seeing it in France, in Spain, throughout Europe; I fear that it has been absolutely inevitable that we will see it in this country.”
Public Health England (PHE) warned that the data released on Friday could be a sign of “much worse things to come”, as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said cases are believed to have nearly doubled in a week to 6,000 per year. day in England.
National blockade
It comes as ministers debate whether more national restrictions are needed, such as forcing bars and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. or stopping people’s socialization.
The Prime Minister insisted that he did not want a second national lockdown, but said it was essential that people follow social distancing guidelines, including the new “rule of six.”
“But as we look at this particular curve and what is happening now, we are clearly going to keep everything under review. I don’t want to go into a second national lockdown at all, it’s the last thing anyone wants, “he said.
“I don’t want to take bigger lockdown measures at all, we want to keep schools open and it’s great that schools are back to the way they have been. We want to keep the economy open as much as possible, we want businesses to keep running.
“The only way we can do it is obviously if people follow the lead.”
Ministers are believed to be considering a two-week national “circuit breaker,” an attempt to break the chain of transmission.
Earlier, however, Health and Welfare Secretary Matt Hancock emphasized that the focus remained on local interventions as he announced new restrictions for much of North West England, West Yorkshire and the Midlands.
Residents should not socialize with others outside of their own homes or support the bubble in private homes and gardens, while restaurants, pubs, and bars will be restricted to table service only in these areas.
Today I visited the @JennerInstitute to @UniofOxford, where scientists lead efforts to develop vaccines for the world’s most infectious diseases. pic.twitter.com/StPqPXW0Ea
– Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 18, 2020
Residents are also advised to avoid public transportation unless absolutely necessary, as well as professional or amateur sporting events.
The new rules do not apply to Bolton or Greater Manchester, where separate restrictions already exist.
In total, about 13.5 million people are currently living under restrictions or will be as of Tuesday.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, warned that local lockdown restrictions were “increasingly likely” in the capital after he held an emergency meeting with government and council leaders.
On Friday, new daily confirmed cases of coronavirus reached 4,322, the highest since May 8.
Cases of the virus and hospital admissions for Covid-19 are doubling every seven to eight days in the UK, according to new data.
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