NEW LOCKDOWN
>> Extra restrictions as new Covid strain surges >> People urged to stay at home immediately >> Schools move to remote working >> Rules to remain in place until mid February
BORIS Johnson has imposed a third national lockdown on England and shut schools to most students to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed by surging coronavirus infections.
In a televised address to the nation last night, the Prime Minister told the nation to stay indoors other than for limited exceptions, with measures expected to last until mid-February.
And the Prime Minister bowed to significant pressure to order primary schools, secondaries and colleges to move to remote teaching for the majority of students from today.
Mr Johnson said the new variant, which is up to 70% more transmissible, was spreading in a “frustrating and alarming” manner, and warned that the number of Covid patients in English hospitals is 40% higher than the first peak.
“As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic,” he said.
Pinning his hopes on the rapid rollout of vaccines to ease restrictions, Mr Johnson acknowledged “how frustrated you are” and that “you have had more than enough of Government guidance” – but stressed “now, more than ever, we must pull together”.
“The weeks ahead will be the hardest yet but I really do believe that we’re entering the last phase of the struggle because with every jab that goes into our arms we’re tilting the odds against Covid and in favour of the British people,” he added.
The lockdown will be brought into law as soon as possible, but Mr Johnson urged the public to follow the rules straight away.
Mr Johnson’s statement came after the chief medical officers for the first time raised the UK to the highest level on the Covid-19 alert system.
They warned the NHS is at risk of being overwhelmed within 21 days “in several areas” without further action. The restrictions are unlikely to be eased until around 13 million people aged over 70 or classed as clinically extremely vulnerable have received the vaccine and been given enough time to be protected – a period of about two to three weeks after getting the jab.
Strong stay at home messaging will return, with leaving only permitted for limited exceptions such as shopping for necessities including food and medicine.
The public were told to work from home unless it is impossible to do so, such as for critical workers and those in the construction industry.
Exercise will be permitted with household or support bubble members or with one other person from another household, but is advised to be limited to only once per day and carried out locally.
The remaining exceptions to going outside are to seek medical help, provide assistance to a vulnerable person, to receive medical care or to flee a threat of harm.
Non-essential shops will have to close, but early years settings such as nurseries and childminders are allowed to remain open and existing childcare bubbles can stay in place.
Exams will again face disruption as schools close to all those other than for the children of key workers and vulnerable children until after the February half-term. University students will not be allowed to return to their institutions.
Restaurants and other hospitality venues can continue delivery or takeaway services but will no longer be permitted to serve alcohol.
Outdoor gyms, tennis courts and golf courses must close and outdoor team sports will be prohibited.
But Premier League football and other elite sports with testing regimes and bubbles in place will be allowed to continue.
The clinically vulnerable who were previously told to shield should stay at home and only leave for medical appointments and exercise.
The regulations are expected to be laid before Parliament today, with MPs retrospectively being given a vote after they are recalled early from the Christmas break on Wednesday.
Mr Johnson briefed his Cabinet on the measures on Monday evening and also spoke to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Johnson said in his address: “I know how tough this is, and I know how frustrated you are and I know you have had more than enough of
government guidance about defeating this virus, but now, more than ever, we must pull together.”
He said the weeks ahead would be the “hardest yet” but added that he believed the country was entering “the last phase of the struggle”.
He said given the alarming figures about the new variant of Covid-19, it had become “clear that we need to do more” to bring the new fastspreading coronavirus variant “under control”.
The PM was given advice yesterday showing cases rising rapidly in every part of country, with 26,626 Covid patients in hospital in England yesterday. That is an increase of over 30% on the same day one week earlier.
The peak of admissions in first wave of coronavirus was 18,974 on April 12. We are now 40% above the highest level of the first wave.
Across the UK, there were 80,664 positive tests on December 29 and a further 65,571 on December 30.
The case rate in England up to December 30 was over 518 per 100,000 – three times the level we were at at the start of December when it was 151.3 on December 1.
Mr Johnson had urged parents to send primary-age children back to school on Monday, insisting that education was a priority, but yesterday said that tougher measures would be announced soon to control the coronavirus.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “The situation we are in is obviously very serious, the figures are very stark and these measures are necessary, sadly, and therefore we support the packages of measures that the prime minister has just outlined.
“And I think whatever our criticisms and challenges of the government we’ve all got to pull together now to make this work over the next few weeks and months.”