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BRITISH PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson has announced a new strategy of local lockdown measures for England as part of attempts to curb rising Covid-19 rates.
The Prime Minister told the House of Commons today that the measures would “simplify and standardize” local lockdown rules.
He also told MPs that the coming weeks and months would “test the mettle” of the country as it faces a second wave of the coronavirus.
The new system is expected to go into effect on Wednesday, when parts of the country will be divided into three different alert levels.
This is what the measurements will look like and how they compare to the Irish system.
Three-tier system
England’s new system will be based on three different levels: medium, high and very high.
Areas classified as ‘medium’ as of Wednesday will be subject to the same measures that are currently applied throughout the country.
These include a 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants and a ban on most gatherings of more than six people.
At the ‘high’ alert level, indoor domestic mixing will be prohibited, although supporting bubbles will still be allowed and groups of six will be allowed to meet outdoors.
Johnson told MPs that areas that are already under local restrictions will move to this level, as will Nottinghamshire, East and West Cheshire and parts of High Peak.
Greater Manchester will also move to this level, according to local MPs and the mayor of the region.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock informed MPs Monday that the city’s ten districts will operate under measures similar to those in place now.
Bars serving food will be allowed to stay open, but households will be prohibited from mixing indoors.
At the ‘very high’ alert level, social mixing will be prohibited both indoors and in private gardens, while pubs and bars will need to close unless they can function as a restaurant.
As in Ireland, pubs that function as restaurants will have to serve “substantial” meals.
Local leaders will help determine if other venues, such as gyms or casinos, should be closed in very high alert areas.
People will also be warned not to travel in and out of these areas.
Those who will move to this level include the Liverpool City Region, which faces the toughest restrictions.
MPs will debate and vote on the measures on Tuesday and the measures will remain under review after they go into effect, with a four-week sunset clause for areas facing the most severe restrictions.
No lock provisions
The new restrictions are notable for not containing any provision for another lock in local regions.
Johnson made no mention of tougher measures in the House of Commons and specifically stated that he did not want to impose another national lockdown.
“There are those who say … we should go back to a full indefinite national lockdown, close schools and businesses, tell people to stay home like we did in March, once again destroying our lives and our society. he said.
“I don’t think that’s the right way.”
In the more severe ‘very high’ category, food-serving shops, restaurants and pubs may remain open, although they may be recommended to close depending on the situation in certain regions.
This is in major contrast to the more severe restrictions in Ireland, Level 5.
While there will not be a total lockdown in Ireland at Level 5 either, pubs and restaurants can only offer takeout or home delivery and only essential retailers can remain open. It is also not known whether schools will remain open if Ireland reaches this level.
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In the meantime, residents of England could be told to avoid all non-essential travel and to stay in their area under “very high” restrictions. But this has yet to be officially announced.
In Ireland, everyone except essential workers will have to work from home at level 5 and people will only be able to travel 5km from their homes.
There is no such distance limit in England, beyond county boundaries similar to those that currently exist at Level 3 in Ireland.
However, there are some similarities between the two countries.
In both countries, gyms, leisure centers and swimming pools will have to close under the most severe restrictions. Likewise, all indoor and outdoor social visits will be prohibited.
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