UK's Johnson shuts pubs in parts of England with new COVID-19 curbs

By Paul Sandle and William James

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, September 22, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo

 

LIVERPOOL/LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a tiered system of further restrictions on parts of England on Monday, including shutting pubs, to curb an acceleration in COVID-19 cases, though anger was rising at the cost of the curtailment of freedoms.

 

Johnson announced a new three-tiered system in an attempt to standardise a patchwork of often complicated and confusing restrictions imposed across England. Lawmakers will vote on the move on Tuesday.

 

The lockdowns will include shutting pubs and bars and banning wedding receptions in areas placed in the "very high" alert level from Wednesday. The other alert levels in the new system are "medium" and "high".

 

So far, Merseyside in northwest England - which includes the city of Liverpool - is the only area classified at the "very high" level. Gyms, leisure centres, casinos, betting shops and adult gaming centres there will also close, Johnson said.

 

"We must act to save lives," Johnson told parliament, adding that he did not want another national lockdown and that he understood the frustrations of those chafing at the "repressions of liberty".

 

"If we let the virus rip, then the bleak mathematics dictate that we would suffer not only an intolerable death toll from COVID, but we would put such a huge strain on our NHS (National Health Service) with an uncontrolled second spike that our doctors and nurses would simply be unable to devote themselves to other treatments."

 

"NARROW PATH"

Health officials say the freshest data showed infections were rising across the north of England and in some more southerly areas too, while the virus was creeping up age bands towards the elderly from those aged 16-29 years.

 

Chris Whitty, the government's chief medical adviser, said the standard restrictions that would apply to very high risk areas would not be enough to control the outbreak there, and urged local authorities to go further.

 

"The base will not be sufficient ... but there are additional things that can be done within that guidance," he said.

 

Schools, restaurants and most workplaces will remain open even in the "very high" risk areas.

 

Manchester intensive care consultant Jane Eddleston said 30% of critical care beds were taken up with COVID-19 patients and this was starting to affect healthcare for others.

 

"This is not how we want to live our lives but this is the narrow path we have to tread between the social and economic trauma of a full lockdown and massive human and indeed economic cost of an uncontained epidemic," Johnson said.

 

The three-tiered system applies only to England as devolved authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have responsibility for their own health arrangements.

 

Britain's large hospitality sector says it is being brought to its knees by the restrictions.

 

Karen Strickland, landlady of The Grapes pub in Liverpool, said their income was already down by 70% with the current enforced countrywide closing time of 10 p.m., and the government's support scheme help was not enough.

 

"It's absolutely horrendous," she said.

 

Under the new restrictions, pubs that serve meals will be allowed to stay open, though they will only be able to serve alcohol as part of such a meal.

 

(Additional reporting by Michael Holden, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton and Estelle Shirbon; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Giles Elgood, David Clarke and Gareth Jones)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-13

 

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Johnson is such a dork.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Boris Johnson imposed a tiered system of further restrictions on parts of England on Monday, including shutting pubs

Need to drink at home ... domestic violence will rise ...

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

If we let the virus rip, then the bleak mathematics dictate that we would suffer not only an intolerable death toll from COVID, but we would put such a huge strain on our NHS (National Health Service) with an uncontrolled second spike that our doctors and nurses would simply be unable to devote themselves to other treatment

I hope that the newly imposed restrictions will really help to curb the ( now exponential ) spread of the virus .

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Under the new restrictions, pubs that serve meals will be allowed to stay open, though they will only be able to serve alcohol as part of such a meal.

Ok , I'll have a burger and 12 beer then ...

Edited October 13, 20205 yr by nobodysfriend

1 hour ago, Magenta408 said:

Johnson is such a dork.

After his initial rejection, he is now taking it seriously. He has learned and is now listening to the scientists. Also a positive is that the announcement comes only 2 days before commencement, in stead of the 2 weeks as seemed to be customary.

No rush.....SAGE recommendation for this action was made 21st September......he is either incredibly stupid and lazy (my bet) or he is still going for herd immunity albeit by the back door, at the same time as achieving the worst of both worlds.

What a Tosser.

So covid only comes out after 10pm boris being clever trying to confuse it when the clocks go back

7 hours ago, webfact said:

though they will only be able to serve alcohol as part of such a meal.

God save the addicts..... ????

So to have a booze you have to order some french fries??? 

Pathetic! ????

8 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

God save the addicts..... ????

So to have a booze you have to order some french fries??? 

Pathetic! ????

It is like the licensing laws of the 80s and 90s - where I lived clubs could only stay open after midnight on Saturdays (because you are into the sabbath and all that) if they provided food, so they would hand out free portions of chips as long as you kept drinking.

When I was younger, the pubs closed at 11pm, 10.30 on Sundays, we all survived....

 

At least the police will have nice Friday and Saturday nights, to not having to pick up blooded drunks, and clean the cells .....???? .......................????

3 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

It is like the licensing laws of the 80s and 90s - where I lived clubs could only stay open after midnight on Saturdays (because you are into the sabbath and all that) if they provided food, so they would hand out free portions of chips as long as you kept drinking.

If you go back even further (70s) all clubs opening outside normal hours had to provide food. I can remember visiting a strip club in Manchester (Bossanova) when I was 17. I remember having some half cooked chicken with a few chips on a paper plate shoved in front of me. When I said that I didn't want it the bouncer growled at me and said, "Effin' eat it". Luckily a poxed up skanky freelancer sat on the next table leaned over and offered to eat it for me.

3 minutes ago, transam said:

When I was younger, the pubs closed at 11pm, 10.30 on Sundays, we all survived....

 

At least the police will have nice Friday and Saturday nights, to not having to pick up blooded drunks, and clean the cells .....???? .......................????

Aye and opened late on Sunday and then closed again between 1600 and 1800 in order to force you to go home and spend time with your family.

Bit like corona really.

27 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

It is like the licensing laws of the 80s and 90s - where I lived clubs could only stay open after midnight on Saturdays (because you are into the sabbath and all that) if they provided food, so they would hand out free portions of chips as long as you kept drinking.

Thank you for this Information. In Ireland I can't remember that kind of law..... or I didn't care ????

He’s getting kick backs from the entertainment sector as he’s still reluctant to show any evidence that this is one of the major problems. 
 

 

Is the parliament pub being shut ? No ,  thought not 

The truth is starting to emerge.

The ditherer after being at least 4 months too late in taking action now is sending it to lawmakers to decide.

Just DO IT Boris, by the time the lawmakers wake up & agree another opportunity will be lost

Seems like we have 2 geese now, the other across the pond.

God help our world

8 hours ago, stevenl said:

After his initial rejection, he is now taking it seriously. He has learned and is now listening to the scientists. Also a positive is that the announcement comes only 2 days before commencement, in stead of the 2 weeks as seemed to be customary.

But he isn't listening to the scientists who have said that they have no confidence in the latest restrictions, even the highest level.  They have said repeatedly that a short circuit break is needed and not this half hearted faffing about.

 

Stand by for yet another U-turn!

7 hours ago, Kadilo said:

He’s getting kick backs from the entertainment sector as he’s still reluctant to show any evidence that this is one of the major problems. 
 

 

 

    He's getting kick backs from the media ..

 

     It's ,  just a jolly , for Boris .

      He won the bet , he would be PM .

      What , a party that was ...

 

       

1 hour ago, dunroaming said:

But he isn't listening to the scientists who have said that they have no confidence in the latest restrictions, even the highest level.  They have said repeatedly that a short circuit break is needed and not this half hearted faffing about.

 

Stand by for yet another U-turn!

I'm not saying he is doing the best possible. 

It will be a struggle for scousers to spend their universal credit now ???? 

Thanks to the PM for his new easy to follow 3 tier system. 
 

 

On 10/13/2020 at 11:41 AM, stevenl said:

After his initial rejection, he is now taking it seriously. He has learned and is now listening to the scientists. Also a positive is that the announcement comes only 2 days before commencement, in stead of the 2 weeks as seemed to be customary.

folks still went out and had one last chance to infect or be infected - you couldn't make up this idiocy if you tried unless you live in Florida.. 

19 hours ago, dunroaming said:

But he isn't listening to the scientists who have said that they have no confidence in the latest restrictions, even the highest level.  They have said repeatedly that a short circuit break is needed and not this half hearted faffing about.

 

Stand by for yet another U-turn!

he listens more to the economists who will soon be out of a job..