On Monday, December 14, 2020, commuters walk along the Thames Path in view of Tower Bridge in London, UK.
Holly Adams | Bloomberg by Getty Images
LONDON – London will be placed under England’s toughest coronavirus ban from midnight on Wednesday following a sharp rise in covid-19 infection rates.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the move Monday as he addressed legislators in the House of Commons. He said British authorities had identified a new strain of the virus, which could be used with the rapid spread of cases in the south-east of England.
“Preliminary analysis indicates that this variant is growing faster than existing variants,” Hancock said, adding that so far, 1,000 cases of new variants have been identified in England.
“Currently there is nothing to suggest that this type is likely to cause serious disease, and the latest medical advice is that this mutation will fail to respond to the vaccine.”
Hancock said similar types of coronavirus had been identified in other countries in recent months and UK health officials had notified the World Health Organization. Hancock said public health experts would continue to analyze newly-identified types of viruses in the UK.
Earlier this month, the government imposed a three-tier system of public health measures in England to prevent an outbreak after a month-long lockdown.
Millions of people across the country were placed in “Tier 3” at the time, but the UK capital city was placed at the second highest level of the ban.
A nationwide review of the tiered system was initially scheduled for Dec. 16.
As well as London, parts of Essex and Hertfordshire are also scheduled to go into “Tier 3” from 00:01 London time on Wednesday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives at the BBC Broadcasting House in London to attend the Andrew Marr show.
Aaron County | PA images by Getty Images
“I know this is hard news, and I know it means plans will be disrupted and it will be a big blow to businesses.”
“But this action is absolutely necessary, not just to keep people safe, because we’ve seen that early action can help prevent more damaging and long-lasting problems later.”
What does Tier 3 mean?
Under Tier 3 restrictions, people cannot mix indoors, in private gardens or in most outdoor spaces.
Personal care services such as shops, gyms and hairdressers are allowed to remain open, but bars, pubs and rest restaurants must be closed except for takeovers and deliveries.
“I know these measures are tough, but we shouldn’t sink in as we enter the final realm so that when we look at this time of crisis, we can all say we’ve played our part.”
Last week, the UK became the first country to inoculate people treated with coronavirus that passed a full test.
Margaret Keenan, who was 90 at the time, made history by becoming the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer-Bioentech vaccine outside of trial conditions.
It will now be offered to front line health workers, nursing home workers and people over the age of 80 before it can be given to a wider proportion in the UK population.
Hopefully a safe and effective vaccine can help end the coronavirus epidemic.
To date, more than .38.3 million people have contracted covid-1 cont worldwide, including 1.61 million related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
– CNBC’s Holly Elliott contributed to this report.
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