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LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people Tuesday to work from home whenever possible and ordered bars and restaurants to close early to deal with a second wave of Covid-19 that is spreading rapidly with restrictions. lasting probably six months.
After government scientists warned that deaths may spike without urgent action, Johnson paused before another full lockdown as he did in March, but said further action could be taken if the disease is not suppressed.
“We reserve the right to deploy more firepower, with significantly greater restrictions,” Johnson told parliament after emergency meetings with UK ministers and delegate government leaders.
“We can only prevent it if our new measures work and our behavior changes.”
He said Britain had reached an equally dangerous point as countries like Spain and France.
“We will spare no effort in developing vaccines, treatments and new forms of mass testing, but unless we make tangible progress, we must assume that the restrictions I have announced will remain in place for perhaps six months.”
Just weeks after urging people to start returning to their workplaces, Johnson advised office workers to stay home if they could. He ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues to close at 10pm starting Thursday and only table service was allowed.
“I’m sorry this hurts a lot of companies that just bounce back,” he said.
Schools and universities that will remain open
Face masks will be required in more settings, companies that break the rules will be fined, and there will be stricter enforcement against people who don’t comply, he said, while the military could be hired to help free the police.
However, schools and universities will remain open.
Johnson was due to address the nation at 7 p.m.
The additional measures come after government advisers said new cases could reach 50,000 a day by mid-October.
The UK already has the highest official death toll from Covid-19 in Europe, 41,788, while it is borrowing record amounts to inject emergency money through the damaged economy.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned that the “very unfortunate” escalation of Covid-19 cases threatened the economic outlook and said the central bank was carefully looking at how it could further support the economy.
Bar operator JD Wetherspoon said it could cut 400 to 450 jobs at sites at six airports, including London’s Heathrow and Gatwick, due to the large drop in passengers.
Opposition leader Keir Starmer urged the government not to end a licensing plan by the end of October, accusing it of losing control of the coronavirus crisis.
“We will not listen to those who say let’s let the virus tear itself apart, or those who urge a permanent shutdown,” Johnson said.
“We are taking decisive and appropriate action to balance saving lives and protecting jobs and livelihoods.”
