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LONDON (BLOOMBERG, REUTERS) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will step up efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus on Monday (October 12), announcing a new tiered system of alert levels that would subject millions of Britons to further restrictions. strict. in your daily life.
Johnson will unveil plans to divide England into “medium”, “high” and “very high” alert areas, and the levels will determine the extent of the restrictions imposed.
The government said it is working with local leaders to decide which places should be in the top category and what restrictions are required in those areas.
The toughest measures, which will likely focus on the north of England, could include the closure of some hospitality venues and a request to people not to travel outside of local areas.
The city of Liverpool will enter the strictest “third tier” of new anti-coronavirus restrictions to be announced imminently by Britain, its leaders said late Sunday after talks with the government.
The government has decided that more measures and closures will be applied to Liverpool, city leaders, including Mayor Steve Rotheram, said in a joint statement.
“Pubs and bars; gambling shops, casinos and adult gaming centers and gyms will close, ”the statement added.
The statement added that city leaders agreed with the government to remain in dialogue to establish a “mutually acceptable” financial support package to mitigate the impact of the new “Level 3” restrictions.
“We also require a clear definition of the exit strategy from Level 3,” the statement said.
While infection rates in London are lower than in some parts of the country, Mayor Sadiq Khan warned last week that further restrictions for the capital are inevitable.
The prime minister will announce the latest speeches in parliament on Monday, before appearing at a televised press conference in Downing Street alongside Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.
Announcing a simplified system with Sunak and Whitty could help Johnson avoid the kind of blunder that caused him to wrongly explain the guidelines last month, forcing him to publicly admit that he was “wrong.”
‘CRITICAL SITUATION’
The announcement comes after a further surge in virus cases in the UK, resulting in a general tightening of regulations and stricter measures, including a ban on home visits, in parts of the country.
“This is a critical juncture,” said a Downing Street spokesman. “Our primary focus has always been to protect lives and livelihoods while controlling the spread of the virus and these measures will help achieve that goal.”
In anticipation of further restrictions, the government on Friday offered more support to workers in areas affected by local closures, and Sunak pledged to pay two-thirds of the salaries of employees at companies forced to close.
Economists say the move will only help limit an expected rise in unemployment this winter, amid fears that new restrictions will stifle an already slow recovery.
Johnson discussed his approach with his cabinet on Sunday and will lead a meeting of the government’s so-called Cobra emergency committee on Monday.
There will also be a public information meeting in Downing Street led by Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam, who on Saturday warned that the nation had reached a “tipping point” similar to the situation before the national shutdown began in March.
The virus has already killed more than 42,000 people in Britain and health officials fear another serious wave this winter.
An Ipsos MORI poll on Sunday showed that the public strongly supports the new restrictions, with seven in 10 Britons backing local closures in areas where coronavirus cases are on the rise.
Across Europe, Johnson’s announcement will come at a time when record cases across Europe trigger new restrictions for a crowd weary of lockdown.
Italy’s government is reviewing additional measures, France introduced stricter restrictions in some of its cities, while the Czech government on Monday will also decide on new regulations.
Two major studies last week highlighted how the virus has exploded in the UK. The Office for National Statistics said the infection rate nearly doubled in the week to October 1, and Imperial College London estimates that there were around 45,000 new infections each day in the period between September 18 and September 5. October.
With infection rates varying across the country, a localized approach remains the best way forward, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Sky News on Sunday.
The tiered approach may mean that some areas face little change in current regulations, including a ban on gatherings of more than six people and a 10 p.m. curfew for the hotel industry.
Johnson’s approach to stopping the virus has been criticized since the pandemic began. Critics say the UK was too slow to impose a strict lockdown in March, while the country’s testing and contact tracing efforts have been hit by delays and data errors.
DISCONTENT
More recently, local leaders have lamented the government’s lack of communication and consultation, while discontent among conservative lawmakers has also risen, with many raising fears about the impact of restrictions on people’s civil liberties and the apparent lack of parliamentary scrutiny on measures.
Downing Street noted that the latest measures had been discussed with local leaders this weekend, and Johnson spoke directly with Steve Rotheram, mayor of the city of Liverpool. Lawmakers will be asked to debate and vote on these measures later this week.
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