England Prepares for a Second COVID-19 Lockdown
Posted on 11/01/2020
Joining his continental peers, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed plans for a month-long lockdown of England. This will also see a nationwide ban on different households mixing inside homes, although childcare facilities, schools, universities, and colleges will remain open. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated that 568,100 people in households were infected with coronavirus in the week ending October 23, 2020. The U.K. government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has said England has breached its “reasonable worst-case” scenario for COVID-19 infections and hospital admissions. Scotland, Wales, and North Ireland have different measures determined by their local governments.
PM Johnston tweeted on October 31, 2020, “We must take action now to protect our NHS. In England, from Thursday until the start of December, you must stay at home.
Non-essential shops, leisure & entertainment venues will be closed. Pubs, bars & restaurants must close except for takeaway and delivery services. (2/10)”.
The decision to place England under a second national coronavirus lockdown will be voted on by Parliament next week.
