England goes into new lockdown as COVID-19 variant rampages

[webfact]

England goes into new lockdown as COVID-19 variant rampages

By William Schomberg and Elizabeth Piper

 

A woman watches the TV as Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces a new national lockdown amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes, Britain, January 4, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday ordered England into a new national lockdown to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens to overwhelm parts of the health system before a vaccine programme reaches a critical mass.

 

The announcement came just hours after the government hailed Britain's success in becoming the first country to begin rolling out the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca against COVID-19.

 

Johnson said a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom and now present in many other countries was spreading at great speed and immediate action was needed to slow it down.

 

"As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from COVID than any time since the start of the pandemic," Johnson said in a televised address to the country.

 

"With most of the country already under extreme measures, it's clear that we need to do more together to bring this new variant under control," he said.

 

 

Britain became the first country to roll out a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca as it seeks to lead the Western world on inoculation. Britain is battling a winter surge driven by a new, highly contagious variant. Lucy Fielder reports.

 

"We must therefore go into a national lockdown, which is tough enough to contain this variant. That means the government is once again instructing you to stay at home."

 

Non-essential shops and hospitality would have to remain closed, while primary and secondary schools would close from Tuesday for all pupils except vulnerable children and those whose parents are key workers.

 

Johnson said the disruption meant it would not be possible for all exams to go ahead this summer -- the second academic year in a row in which the pandemic has played havoc with pupils' education and future plans.

 

Johnson said that if the vaccine rollout went as planned and the number of deaths responded to the lockdown measures as expected, it should be possible to start moving out of lockdown by the middle of February.

 

However, he urged caution about the timetable and appealed to everyone to comply with the rules.

 

Britain's economy suffered a historic crash of nearly 20% in the April-June period of 2020 as swathes of business were shuttered by the first lockdown.

 

The new measures, which allow companies such as construction firms to remain open, could cost about 10% of economic output for as long as they last, said Julian Jessop, a fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a think-tank.

 

NEW VACCINE LAUNCHED

As Britain grapples with the world's sixth highest death toll and cases hit a new high, the country's chief medical officers said the spread of COVID-19 risked overwhelming parts of the health system within 21 days.

 

The surge in cases has been driven by the new variant of COVID-19, officials say, and while they acknowledge that the pandemic is spreading more quickly than expected, they say there is also light at the end of the tunnel - vaccinations.

 

Johnson's government earlier touted a scientific "triumph" as Britain became the first country in the world to start inoculating people with shots of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

 

Dialysis patient Brian Pinker, 82, received the first vaccination outside of a trial.

 

"I am so pleased to be getting the COVID vaccine today and really proud that it is one that was invented in Oxford," said the retired maintenance manager, just a few hundred metres from where the vaccine was developed.

 

But even with the vaccines being rolled out, the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths keep rising.

 

More than 75,000 people in the United Kingdom have died from COVID-19 within 28 days of a positive test since the start of the pandemic. A record 58,784 new cases of the coronavirus were reported on Monday.

 

Moving a few hours ahead of Johnson, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon imposed the most stringent lockdown for Scotland since last spring.

 

The devolved administration in Wales said all schools and colleges there should move to online learning until Jan. 18.

 

(Additional reporting by Estelle Shirbon, Alistair Smout and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Gareth Jones)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-05

 

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[Kadilo]

Only this morning he was telling parents to send their kids back to school as it was safe even though teachers and parents had concerns. 

 

He’s not called  Captain U Turn for nothing. 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by Kadilo

[Kadilo]

Nice shot of a woman watching tv in MIlton Keynes. 

 

I hope they paid her well. 

Edited January 4, 2021 by Kadilo

[RichardColeman]

Being stuck away from Thailand and the family in a UK bed and breakfast, in a 10ft square room, if they think I'm staying in 23 hours a day they can get knotted ! What's the worst they can do, put me in a 10ft square prison room, with 3 square meals an exercise every day ,with no bills, free tv and a library ? 

[RichardColeman]

2 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Nice shot of a woman watching tv in MIlton Keynes. 

 

I hope they paid her well. 

hopefully she can buy a matching lightshade !

[sammieuk1]

Boris has adjusted his G-string and found something growing pity the calamity in a suit didn't look sooner  but we are there now ???? 

[Kadilo]

5 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Being stuck away from Thailand and the family in a UK bed and breakfast, in a 10ft square room, if they think I'm staying in 23 hours a day they can get knotted ! What's the worst they can do, put me in a 10ft square prison room, with 3 square meals an exercise every day ,with no bills, free tv and a library ? 

It’s the usual unworkable, unmanageable nonsense. 

There is no limit on outdoor exercise ..........but everyone has to stay at home because there are too many people outside ......and the takeaways are still open. 

 

How can they legally stop anyone ? 

 

Utter tosh. 

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by Kadilo

[sammieuk1]

3 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Being stuck away from Thailand and the family in a UK bed and breakfast, in a 10ft square room, if they think I'm staying in 23 hours a day they can get knotted ! What's the worst they can do, put me in a 10ft square prison room, with 3 square meals an exercise every day ,with no bills, free tv and a library ? 

Snap but without any heating and not near the sea ????

[mstevens]

[ourmanflint]

Phew! We're still allowed to move, will be swapping dingy London for a beach on the south coast. At least we'll have garden now and somewhere pleasant to walk without hundreds of panting joggers spewing their virus everywhere you go

[mrfill]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Being stuck away from Thailand and the family in a UK bed and breakfast, in a 10ft square room, if they think I'm staying in 23 hours a day they can get knotted ! What's the worst they can do, put me in a 10ft square prison room, with 3 square meals an exercise every day ,with no bills, free tv and a library ? 

Better than a potential £9600 fine?

[edwinchester]

This incompetent charlatan and his equally useless cabinet has literally 10's of thousands of deaths on their hands.

On Sunday he was saying schools were a safe place for kids, weeks ago he was ridiculing those in Parliament who said that a lockdown was imperative to avoid the epidemic spiraling out of control.

As usual he ridiculed, dithered and delayed as is his modus operandi until there is only one option available when he can then tell everyone that there is only one choice and he is doing what needs to be done.

The man is a complete disaster.

[Stargeezr]

Glad that I am not stuck on the UK, or actually Thailand. 

I am especially glad that I am not stuck in California, or Florida.  phew...

Geezer

[2530Ubon]

How about air travel? Is he finally going to stop people coming and going willy nilly?

 

Part of the problem is people are jetting off to escape on a holiday and either infecting others abroad, or returning with an infection and infecting other folks back home. I hope this time people take the lockdown seriously and don''t breach the rules again to go shopping for 'essential cookies'. I hope everyone is forced to wear a mask out of the home and to wear it properly. They are not chin diapers, they go over the nose and mouth folks.

 

Perhaps his name will become the new catchy u turn replacement. No longer will the government do U-turns, they'll be; Doing a Boris / Doing a BoJo / Doing a BJ (the last one is a little suspect)

[madmen]

7 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Being stuck away from Thailand and the family in a UK bed and breakfast, in a 10ft square room, if they think I'm staying in 23 hours a day they can get knotted ! What's the worst they can do, put me in a 10ft square prison room, with 3 square meals an exercise every day ,with no bills, free tv and a library ? 

Being swapped for a packet of ciggies would deter me but thats just me. 

[2530Ubon]

10 minutes ago, madmen said:

Being swapped for a packet of ciggies would deter me but thats just me. 

For some that may be a delightful suprise lurking around the otherwise boring day

[RuamRudy]

1 hour ago, 2530Ubon said:

How about air travel? Is he finally going to stop people coming and going willy nilly?

 

Part of the problem is people are jetting off to escape on a holiday and either infecting others abroad, or returning with an infection and infecting other folks back home. I hope this time people take the lockdown seriously and don''t breach the rules again to go shopping for 'essential cookies'. I hope everyone is forced to wear a mask out of the home and to wear it properly. They are not chin diapers, they go over the nose and mouth folks.

 

Perhaps his name will become the new catchy u turn replacement. No longer will the government do U-turns, they'll be; Doing a Boris / Doing a BoJo / Doing a BJ (the last one is a little suspect)

 

Air travel itself is not the problem - there are ways to manage it in a more controlled manner.

 

I am travelling to the middle east for work on Thursday - prior to departure I need to take a PCR test no earlier than 72hrs before landing in the country of arrival. Upon arrival I will be tested again in the airport and then will be issued with a tracking bracelet that I cannot remove. I will be confined to a nominated quarantine hotel for 7 days, after which I will be tested one more time. If I am clear, only then can I remove the bracelet and leave the quarantine I can go to my office. All the costs associated with this are borne by the traveler.

 

Contrast this with arrangements for travelling to the UK. In October, when I flew back, I had to fill out a pre-flight COVID form. Upon arrival, I waltzed through immigration without a concern in the world. I saw a poster telling me that I was obliged to self isolate for 14 days but there was no measures in place to confirm whether I complied. 

 

The UK could have done all of the enhanced measures effectively - it is not without pain, of course, but could have prevented many international transmissions. 

[RayC]

10 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Being stuck away from Thailand and the family in a UK bed and breakfast, in a 10ft square room, if they think I'm staying in 23 hours a day they can get knotted ! What's the worst they can do, put me in a 10ft square prison room, with 3 square meals an exercise every day ,with no bills, free tv and a library ? 

I doubt that you will be incarcerated, but it may prove very expensive if you get caught continually transgressing.

 

If you are unable to accept the UK's regulations, why not return to Thailand?

[Kadilo]

6 minutes ago, RayC said:

I doubt that you will be incarcerated, but it may prove very expensive if you get caught continually transgressing.

 

If you are unable to accept the UK's regulations, why not return to Thailand?

You really think they have people going around checking on who is leaving their homes. 

 

Even is they did you could be :

out for exercise 

on the way to food shop 

On the way to buy  medicine

 

Thats why it’s nonsense. It’s  unmanageable. 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Kadilo

[Kadilo]

The prime minister’s position on schools changed very quickly.

 

On Sunday’s Andrew Marr Show, he said: “I understand people’s frustrations, I understand people’s anxieties. But there is no doubt in my mind that schools are safe and that education is a priority.”

But he was clear that the situation was being kept under review as he urged parents of primary school children to take them to school if their schools were opening.

In Monday evening’s statement he acknowledged the rapid change of policy, saying: “Parents whose children were in school today may reasonably ask why we did not take this decision sooner.”

He stressed that children would still be safe at school, but that they were being closed because they could “act as vectors for transmission, causing the virus to spread between households”.

 

Was he the only one who didn’t know that  Schools are a cause of spreading the virus or has he been living with

his head buried in Hancocks ass. 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Kadilo

[sandyf]

12 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

You really think they have people going around checking on who is leaving their homes. 

 

Even is they did you could be :

out for exercise 

on the way to food shop 

On the way to buy  medicine

 

Thats why it’s nonsense. It’s  unmanageable. 

The nonsense is people saying it is nonsense and their interpretation of management.

You probably believe that only the MD is responsible for H & S at work.

[Kadilo]

1 minute ago, sandyf said:

The nonsense is people saying it is nonsense and their interpretation of management.

You probably believe that only the MD is responsible for H & S at work.

Stop talking nonsense. 

[sandyf]

15 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Stop talking nonsense. 

A master of deflection.

[2530Ubon]

1 hour ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Air travel itself is not the problem - there are ways to manage it in a more controlled manner.

 

I am travelling to the middle east for work on Thursday - prior to departure I need to take a PCR test no earlier than 72hrs before landing in the country of arrival. Upon arrival I will be tested again in the airport and then will be issued with a tracking bracelet that I cannot remove. I will be confined to a nominated quarantine hotel for 7 days, after which I will be tested one more time. If I am clear, only then can I remove the bracelet and leave the quarantine I can go to my office. All the costs associated with this are borne by the traveler.

 

Contrast this with arrangements for travelling to the UK. In October, when I flew back, I had to fill out a pre-flight COVID form. Upon arrival, I waltzed through immigration without a concern in the world. I saw a poster telling me that I was obliged to self isolate for 14 days but there was no measures in place to confirm whether I complied. 

 

The UK could have done all of the enhanced measures effectively - it is not without pain, of course, but could have prevented many international transmissions. 

I couldn't agree with you more. Fantastic post. Now if only we could get Boris to read this.... Perhaps if we put it in a playboy mag centerfold it would reach him.

Edited January 5, 2021 by 2530Ubon

[RayC]

4 hours ago, Kadilo said:

You really think they have people going around checking on who is leaving their homes.

No. And where did I suggest that?

4 hours ago, Kadilo said:

 

Even is they did you could be :

out for exercise 

on the way to food shop 

On the way to buy  medicine

And in such cases, you would not be breaking the rules.

4 hours ago, Kadilo said:

 

Thats why it’s nonsense. It’s  unmanageable. 

So by your logic, any regulation that is not completely manageable is nonsense? That's most of the offences relating to drunkenness, criminal damage, etc. wiped out.

 

Most regulations rely on compliance and individuals taking personal responsibility. Those relating to lockdown are no different in that respect.

[Natai Beach]

China suspended travel for their people on January 24 2020 to stop the spread of covid.

 

It would be nice if the UK did the same with the new more contagious mutant UK strain.

[Nout]

15 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Snap but without any heating and not near the sea ????

I hope the people stranded outside of Thailand will be more circumspect regarding their constant criticism of Thailand, the Thai people and their culture. Being stuck in a small bedside is unfortunate. Why not stay with friends or family?

[Kadilo]

1 hour ago, RayC said:

No. And where did I suggest that?

And in such cases, you would not be breaking the rules.

So by your logic, any regulation that is not completely manageable is nonsense? That's most of the offences relating to drunkenness, criminal damage, etc. wiped out.

 

Most regulations rely on compliance and individuals taking personal responsibility. Those relating to lockdown are no different in that respect.

You miss the point. You can’t suddenly tell everyone they are on lockdown and things are gonna get worse when in reality nothing’s changed or can change because those who want to ignore will continue to do so as it’s unmanageable and if they want a get out of taking “personal responsibility “ they are there in abundance. I’ve just been out for my “exercise” and can confirm nothings changed. Same shops open, public transport as regular as yesterday, only difference is  more children out and about as no school 

 

Its pointless saying it’s a legal requirement as it’s unenforceable, just a load  of woolly  words and idle unenforceable threats. 

 

 

[Kadilo]

1 hour ago, Natai Beach said:

China suspended travel for their people on January 24 2020 to stop the spread of covid.

 

It would be nice if the UK did the same with the new more contagious mutant UK strain.

It is suspended as we are on lockdown. Unless it’s for work or compassionate. 

[Natai Beach]

4 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

It is suspended as we are on lockdown. Unless it’s for work or compassionate. 

 Horse has bolted. It has already spread to many countries.
 

But good that it won’t be exported anymore.