Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced that a four-week lockdown will be observed across England as covid-19 cases top 1 million in the country. The PM has also warned that hospitals might see overwhelming response under the current system of localised restrictions.
The new set of rules will come into force from Thursday and except essential workers, people mustn’t step out of the house for work, schools, ecxercise as well as other extracurricular activities.
However, unlike the first lockdown earlier this year, Universities and Colleges will remain open. Pubs, resturants and other outlets will only be available for takeaway food while entertainment venues’ operations have also been suspended.
“Now is the time to take action because there’s no alternative,” PM Johnson said at a news conference. “We have got to be humble in the face of nature. In this country, alas, as in much of Europe, the virus is spreading even faster than the reasonable worst-case scenario of our scientific advisers,” he added.
The government has also announced to revive its emergency coronavirus wage subsidy scheme to ensure that the people who are currently on the verge of losing their jobs during the lockdown receive at least 80 per cent of their total pay.
The health officials have warned that the current covid-19 situation across the counrty has become more vulnerable than what was expected with hospitals overwhelmed.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said that if situation doesn’t get better, the country will be in swamp of covid-19 deaths and infections by early December.
As of now, 46,555 COVID-19 deaths – defined as those dying within 28 days of a positive test have been recorded across the United Kingdom. A broader death measure of those with COVID-19 on their death certificates is currently at 58,925.
The lockdown which will come into force from Thursday will remain active till December 2.