England will end COVID lockdown with stricter tiered system

[rooster59]

England will end COVID lockdown with stricter tiered system

By Kate Holton

 

FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a protective face mask walks over Waterloo Bridge during sunset, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, November 5, 2020. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - England will end a national COVID-19 lockdown on Dec. 2 and move into tougher tiered regional restrictions than before, with more areas facing severe constraints to prevent the virus from reigniting, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office said.

 

Johnson ordered England in to a month-long lockdown in early November after infection cases and deaths started to rise again, angering businesses and some of his own political party over the economic consequences.

 

A second wave of infections has started to flatten, official data shows, but scientific advisers are expected to warn on Monday that previous regional restrictions did not go far enough and harder measures are needed to prevent another national lockdown.

 

"The Prime Minister and his scientific advisors are clear the virus is still present - and without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control again before vaccines and mass testing have had an effect," a spokeswoman said.

 

"That would put in jeopardy the progress the country has made, and once again risk intolerable pressure on the NHS (National Health Service)."

 

Britain has suffered the worst death toll in Europe and the deepest economic contraction of any G7 nation, prompting sharp criticism of Johnson's handling of the pandemic.

 

Prior to the latest lockdown, England had been placed into three tiers, with the toughest measures imposed in northern England, where movement was limited and pubs were forced to close unless they sold substantial meals.

 

Johnson's office said the prime minister would set out a new COVID Winter Plan on Monday, with more areas placed into the higher restrictions under the tiered system.

 

He will discuss it with his cabinet of leading ministers on Sunday and present to parliament on Monday. The plan will also include details on interactions at Christmas.

 

Ministers will announce which areas will be placed into which tier on Thursday, with lawmakers able to vote on the system before it comes into force. The tiers will be reviewed.

 

The move is likely to be met with fierce resistance from some lawmakers who argue that the country cannot afford to close shops and hospitality again after unemployment numbers and debt jumped, and economic output plunged 20% in the second quarter.

 

The government has argued that the virus will overwhelm hospitals and cripple the economy if it is left unchecked. The opposition Labour Party said a package of support would be needed for any business having to close.

 

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also under varying levels of restrictions, set by their local governments.

 

(Reporting by Kate Holton, editing by Louise Heavens)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-22

 

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[Natai Beach]

The UK made this same mistake last time. Opening up before controlling it properly. Currently 20,000 ish new daily cases and 500ish deaths. Still too high, obviously it will spike again and they will be back to where they started again. Complete waste of time. Johnson is too sensitive to criticism, no backbone (even with his girlfriend) and the result is the highest deaths in Europe and one of the highest death rates in the world.
 

They seem obsessed by having a “Christmas”, celebrating a Jewish bloke from 2020 years ago and being allowed to go to the pub which will result in more deaths and another lockdown in the future. 
 

A half hearted lockdown is a waste of time, you wreck the economy for no benefit, better not to even bother.

Edited November 22, 2020 by Natai Beach

[robbioff]

5 hours ago, Natai Beach said:

The UK made this same mistake last time. Opening up before controlling it properly. Currently 20,000 ish new daily cases and 500ish deaths. Still too high, obviously it will spike again and they will be back to where they started again. Complete waste of time. Johnson is too sensitive to criticism, no backbone (even with his girlfriend) and the result is the highest deaths in Europe and one of the highest death rates in the world.
 

They seem obsessed by having a “Christmas”, celebrating a Jewish bloke from 2020 years ago and being allowed to go to the pub which will result in more deaths and another lockdown in the future. 
 

A half hearted lockdown is a waste of time, you wreck the economy for no benefit, better not to even bother.

Absolutely. It is a million per cent better not to bother.

[Foghorn]

What’s the point of lockdown when all the mosques are open and the muslum men kissing each other when they meet

[natway09]

Christmas coming & a population that refuse to accept any being told what to do or discipline 

will ensure that they will be isolated for up to another 18 months

[Kadilo]

A week off for Xmas then another clampdown to pay for it. 
 

It will be the same as before. Unless they come up with another comprehensive support package there will be rebellions asking for the evidence showing the balance of death from COVID vs the cost of life due to further lockdown misery, and once again they won’t show it cos they don’t have anything. 
 

 

[Kadilo]

14 minutes ago, natway09 said:

Christmas coming & a population that refuse to accept any being told what to do or discipline 

will ensure that they will be isolated for up to another 18 months

They are predicted to be rolling out a vaccine by end of April, so your 18 month isolation is pish. 

[Natai Beach]

50 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

They are predicted to be rolling out a vaccine by end of April, so your 18 month isolation is pish. 

One in three Uk citizens are saying they will refuse to take it. At that rate, covid will not be eliminated.