Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of Britain, has announced a one-month extended lockdown in the country. The country has been a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, which is a huge concern right now.
The lockdown starts tomorrow, November 5, and will last till December 2. The country will slowly get back to normal in December. During the lockdown, citizens can leave home only for necessities like education, exercise, work, and grocery shopping. All other non-essential services will be stopped. Bars, restaurants, and pubs will remain closed, but takeaway service open. Educational institutions like schools, colleges, and universities will be open. Johnson said that virus must not damage the future of the children.
Boris Johnson announces one-month lockdown in England
While making the announcement, the Prime Minister spoke with Chris Witty, a chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, a chief scientific adviser. They explained that the reports of a surge in cases made Boris Johnson take this call.
According to data, the number of cases in winters will be double compared to what it was during spring. The disease spread has been rapid during the past few weeks compared to what it was during the other seasons.
The maximum number of cases was seen in London and West Midlands. There is also a record surge in Yorkshire and North West. Witty said that the cases are high all across the UK. Moreover, the cases have risen in all age groups, but the maximum for people above 85.
England has recorded around 20,000 fresh cases every day for the last week. The exact number of positive cases is 1,099,059 right now and has the highest death toll in Europe, with 47,742 fatalities.
The number of people getting admitted to NHS hospitals is massive, and there is a reduction in the number of beds available. North West is close to the levels seen during the spike in April. According to current trends, the levels will increase more than the first wave.
Sadiq Khan lashes out at the government
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, lashed out over Twitter and said that the government should have implied lockdown before. He said that delay in lockdown implies a higher number of cases. A “circuit break” will be significant at this time.
The UK is not the only European country that has got into a lockdown due to increasing cases. The continent is seeing a spike in cases in several other places like France and Germany. However, the lockdown in the UK is the longest as of now.
The situation in France is severe, according to Dr. Eric Caumes, the head of the infections and tropical diseases department from Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital, Paris. He reported that the country has lost control of the pandemic.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, immediately announced a lockdown to avoid surging cases and chaos at hospitals. He said that the second wave has overpowered the country. They were 40,000 to 50,000 fresh cases every day for one week.
Germany is also set to go into a shutdown and stop all non-essential services. According to officials, the curve needs to be flattened before hospitals see new cases filing up. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said that they need to act right now to avoid a natural emergency.
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