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Britain imposed stricter restrictions on Thursday (local time) on individuals and businesses in parts of northeast England as the nation tries to stem the spread of Covid-19 before the coldest winter months.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the UK House of Commons that the new measures would include banning residents from socializing with people outside their homes, ordering leisure and entertainment venues to close from 10pm to 5 am and restrict bars and restaurants to table service only.
He also pledged £ 2.7 billion to support the National Health Service this winter.
Uncredited / AP
In this capture from the video, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during the Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, London.
“The battle against the coronavirus is not over, and as we strain every tendon to free ourselves from its clutches, with winter on the horizon we must prepare, strengthen our defenses and unite once again against this common enemy,” Hancock said.
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The comments came after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that authorities will have to impose tougher measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 and “protect” the Christmas holidays. In an article published in Sun newspaper, said the only way to be certain that the country will enjoy the winter holidays “is to be tough now.”
“So if we can grab it now,” Johnson said, Britain can “stop the surge, stop the peak, stop the dromedary’s second hump, flatten the second hump.”
For the past three days, opposition lawmakers have criticized Johnson’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis and said his administration lacked a coherent plan to tackle a second wave of the pandemic. Testing capacity shortages are a particular concern, with people across the country complaining that they were unable to schedule testing appointments or were directed to testing centers far from their homes.
Victoria Jones / AP
The British government plans to ration coronavirus testing, prioritizing healthcare workers and nursing home staff after widespread reports that people across the country were unable to schedule testing.
Widespread testing is considered crucial to controlling the spread of the virus because it allows infected people to isolate themselves while also helping health officials identify hot spots and track potentially exposed people.
Daily infection rates recently rose to levels not seen since late May, forcing the British government to impose limits on public gatherings.
Figures released Wednesday night showed 3,991 new confirmed cases during the previous 24 hours, up from 3,105 the day before.
Hancock said the government decided to impose stricter restrictions on northeast England at the request of local officials.
“We agree with the municipalities that we must follow the data … and the data says we must act now,” he said.
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said the controls are seen as “preventive” measures that will help prevent a full-scale lockdown.
JESSICA TAYLOR / AP
Opposition leaders accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of lacking a coherent plan to combat the virus.
Local leaders are concerned that the rise in infections is beginning to affect older people who are more susceptible to the disease, Forbes told the BBC.
“Last week, 60 percent of the people being tested were between the ages of 18 and 30. That is now beginning to reach older age groups as well, ”she said. “We know that when it begins to affect older people, that is when hospitalizations begin and, unfortunately, also mortality.”
Local leaders in other parts of the country are also demanding that the government increase testing capacity to prevent a second wave of infections.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for measures to counter “chaos and confusion.” He told members of the London Assembly that the trial problems were “putting lives and livelihoods at risk”.
“We’ve known for months that the demand for testing would increase in the fall,” Khan said. “This critical point should have been anticipated and then avoided. And unless the government massively increases testing capacity in London, we will be back to where we started: trying to stop the spread of the virus in the dark. ”
