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By Paul Sandle and William James
LIVERPOOL / LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday imposed a tiered system of additional restrictions on parts of England, including closing pubs, to slow the acceleration of COVID-19 cases, though anger it increased because of the cost of the reduction. of freedoms.
Johnson announced a new three-tier system in an attempt to standardize a patchwork of often complicated and confusing restrictions imposed across England. Lawmakers will vote on the measure Tuesday.
The closures will include the closure of pubs and bars and a ban on wedding receptions in areas placed on the “very high” alert level starting Wednesday. The other alert levels in the new system are “medium” and “high”.
So far, Merseyside in the North West of England, which includes the city of Liverpool, is the only area classified at the “very high” level. Gyms, entertainment centers, casinos, gambling shops and adult gaming centers will also close, Johnson said.
“We must act to save lives,” Johnson told parliament, adding that he did not want another national blockade and that he understood the frustrations of those who were angered by the “repressions of freedom.”
“If we let the virus rip apart, then grim math dictates that we would suffer not only an intolerable number of deaths from COVID, but we would put such great pressure on our NHS (National Health Service) with a second uncontrolled spike than our doctors and the nurses just couldn’t do other treatments. “
“NARROW ROAD”
Health officials say the most recent data showed infections were increasing in the north of England and also in some areas further south, while the virus progressed across the age ranges towards the elderly aged 16-29.
Chris Whitty, the government’s top medical adviser, said that standard restrictions that would apply to very high-risk areas would not be enough to control the outbreak there, and urged local authorities to go further.
“The base will not be enough … but there are additional things that can be done within that guide,” he said.
Schools, restaurants, and most workplaces will remain open even in “very high” risk areas.
Manchester intensive care consultant Jane Eddleston said 30% of intensive care beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients and this was starting to affect the healthcare of others.
“This is not how we want to live our lives, but this is the narrow path we have to travel between the social and economic trauma of a total lockdown and the massive human and indeed economic cost of an uncontrolled epidemic,” Johnson said.
The three-tier system applies to England only, as delegated authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have responsibility for their own health arrangements.
Britain’s large hotel industry says restrictions are bringing it to its knees.
Karen Strickland, landlady at The Grapes pub in Liverpool, said her income was already down 70% with the nationwide closing time of 10pm, and the help from the government support scheme was not enough.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” he said.
Under the new restrictions, pubs that serve meals will be allowed to remain open, although they will only be able to serve alcohol as part of the meal.
(Additional reporting by Michael Holden, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, and Estelle Shirbon; written by Guy Faulconbridge; edited by Giles Elgood, David Clarke, and Gareth Jones)
