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Trains were overcrowded and roads were jammed last night as Londoners tried to flee the capital ahead of tighter coronavirus restrictions, in what has been called “totally irresponsible behavior.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock let out a deep breath and shook his head when asked about images of a busy St Pancras station next to Sky’s Sophy Ridge.
He said: “This was clearly totally irresponsible behavior, the medical director [Professor Chris Whitty] It was absolutely clear that people should unpack their bags if they had them packed.
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Matt Hancock responds to crowded London train station
“I think these are relatively small numbers, and the vast majority of people throughout this pandemic have played by the rules, been responsible and played their part, and I want to thank everyone for doing that.”
Fears about a new strain of coronavirus prompted the prime minister to announce on Saturday that all areas that were previously at Level 3 in the South East, including London, would move to the new Level 4 today.
This would mean the closure of nonessential stores, gyms and hair salons, with the order that people stay home, with limited exceptions.
It would also mean not mixing households over Christmas, which saw many people make the last-minute leap to slightly lighter rules in other parts of England.
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The rules were announced by the prime minister on Saturday at a press conference at 4 pm before they go into effect at midnight.
At 7pm, there were no seats available online on trains at various London stations, including Paddington, Kings Cross and Euston.
Harriet Clugston was among those traveling on a train from St Pancras to Leeds, a service she described as “crowded”.
She wrote on Twitter: “The ad on Tannoy says that social distancing ‘will not be possible’ due to volume and to be turned down if you are not comfortable with it.
“People have tried to ensure social distance by placing (suitcases) on the seats, but other passengers have asked them to remove them because the train is so full.”
She added: “All the people on this train, including myself, have made what is probably a very foolish and irresponsible decision to travel, albeit within the law. But that’s what people were always going to do to be together. In Christmas.
“My mother lives alone and there is no way I can’t be with her at Christmas.”
One woman, who did not want to be named, said she and her partner had made a “split decision” to take their young son to his parents’ home on the coast.
“We just made the decision to leave based on the fact that my parents told them to come, and we couldn’t bear the thought of there being no fresh air and a little kid going crazy for a small apartment for the foreseeable,” he said.
“We also felt that we wanted to take the baby to a slightly safer place with a garden, although we know that many people will not have that luxury.
People crowded in the lobby of Paddington station in London
She added: “The grandparents are desperately happy to see their grandson.
“Obviously we worry about bringing them something, but they seem happy to take the risk.”
Izzy, 22, of Bristol, said she wanted “the security of being home for Christmas” and that her parents had come looking for her before the restrictions went into effect.
“I have a slight nervousness that they might block the roads or something like that, preventing me from going home,” he said.
“I’m moving out of my apartment so I need my dad to come get me and he feels more comfortable doing it before Level 4 starts.”
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