UK’S Johnson warns of more lockdown measures
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned yesterday that more onerous lockdown restrictions in England are likely in the coming weeks as the country reels from a newcoronavirus variant that has pushed infection rates to their highest recorded levels.
Johnson, though, insisted he has “no doubt” schools are safe and urged parents to send their children back into the classroom in areas of England where they can. Unions representing teachers have called for schools to turn to remote learning for at least a couple of weeks more due to the new variant, which scientists have said is up to 70 per cent more contagious.
The UK is in the midst of an acute outbreak, recording more than 50,000 new coronavirus infections per day over the past six days. Yesterday, it notched up another 54,990 cases, down slightly from the previous day’s daily record of 57,725. The country also recorded another 454 virusrelated deaths to take the total to 75,024.
According to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the UK is alternating with Italy as the worst-hit European nation.
“We are entirely reconciled to do what it takes to get the virus under control, that may involve tougher measures in the weeks ahead,” Johnson said. “Obviously there are a range of tougher measures that we would have to consider.”
Johnson conceded that school closures, curfews and the total banning of household mixing could be on the agenda for areas under the most stress.
London and southeast England are facing extremely high levels of new infections and there is speculation that restrictions there will have to be tightened to bring the virus under control. In some parts of the British capital and its surrounding areas, there are more than 1000 cases per 100,000 people.
Johnson’s Conservative government is using a tiered coronavirus restrictions system. Most of England is already at the highest Tier Four level, which involves the closure of shops not selling nonessential items and places like gyms and recreation centres as well as a stay-at-home instruction.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the main opposition Labour Party, urged Johnson to bring in further national restrictions in the next day or so though he stopped short of calling for the closure of schools as he said he didn’t want to “add to the chaos” that is likely to emerge today.
Starmer also said it’s unavoidable that more schools will close and urged the government to come up with a plan both for students and for working parents. — AP