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It is “inevitable” that London will pass a “trigger point” to introduce stricter restrictions against coronavirus in the “coming days,” Sadiq Khan told Sky News.
“All the indicators I have, hospital admissions, ICU occupancy, the number of older people with cases, the prevalence of the disease, positivity are going in the wrong direction,” he said. London said the mayor.
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“Which means, I fear, that it is inevitable in the course of the next few days that London has passed a trigger point to be on the second level.”
The capital is currently at Level 1 of the three-tier system of government of coronavirus restrictions, which means an alert level of “medium”.
But the mayor’s office has put Londoners on alert for the capital to move to Level 2, and a spokesman said Monday that the situation “could change very quickly, potentially even this week.”
Level 1, “medium”, will cover a significant part of England and includes current national restrictions such as the “rule of six” and a 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants.
Level 2, “high”, will prevent people from socializing with other households indoors, even in pubs and restaurants.
However, support bubbles will still be allowed.
In these areas, the rule of six will continue to apply outdoors in public spaces, as well as in private gardens.
Khan told Sky News that London as a whole should adopt tighter restrictions, rather than taking a “hyperlocal” approach of different restrictions for different boroughs.
“We are eager to go as one as we can see the complexities and confusion caused by some counties with additional restrictions and others with less,” he said.
“A lot of Londoners work in one borough, live in another borough, study in another borough, go to a restaurant in another borough, so we are very interested in going as a city.”
The average across London was 78 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to October 9, and the level varied in different parts of the capital.
Ealing in West London had 119 new cases, while Bexley in South East London had the missing number of new cases at 51.6.
Meanwhile, the Essex County Council has asked Health Secretary Matt Hancock to move the area from Level 1 to Level 2, following what he said was a significant increase in cases.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham of Labor previously told Sky News that he would prefer a national “circuit breaker” lockdown to stricter local measures.
Speaking with Kay Burley, Burnham said there was “pressure” from the government for the area to be placed on the “very high” alert level, but that he had “serious doubts” that the Level 3 measures would be sufficient.
At level 3, “very high”, people will be prohibited from socializing with other households both indoors and in private gardens, while bars and pubs will remain closed unless they can function as restaurants.
Alcohol can be served in pubs that function as restaurants in these areas, but only as part of a meal.
Residents will also be warned not to travel in and out of these areas, while it will be up to local politicians if other entertainment venues like gyms and casinos should also close.
The Liverpool city region is currently the only area at the “very high” alert level.
