BRITAIN IN LOCKDOWN
Astonishing restrictions on daily life ++ NO non-essential travel ++ One exercise outing a day ++ Fines if you don’t obey ++ All for at least 3 weeks ++ ...as our figures surge to 1,125
BORIS Johnson has imposed an unprecedented virus lockdown in Britain.
The UK prime minister declared that his country is facing a national emergency and ordered families to stay in their homes except in special circumstances.
All ‘non-essential’ shops will be closed, public gatherings of more than two are banned and police will be able to fine rule-breakers. Weddings have also been banned, and Mr Johnson has insisted that no one should meet friends or even family from other households.
The restrictions will stay for at least three weeks – but probably far longer.
The British lockdown comes as signs of the surge emerged here last night, with two more deaths from coronavirus, bringing the number to six; and another 219 cases confirmed, the highest figure
yet, bringing the amount of cases to 1,125 overall.
Amid growing alarm over the spread of the virus, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for a ‘shutdown’ off all nonessential shops and services, saying any further ‘delay will cost lives’, while Fianna Fáil called for drowns with loudspeakers to be used to disperse crowds.
In Britain the prime minister warned that the NHS would be overwhelmed unless everyone helped to stop the spread of coronavirus now. He said without action ‘more people are likely to die, not just from coronavirus but from other illnesses as well’.
In his televised address he added: ‘From this evening, I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home. No prime minister wants to enact measures like this. I know the damage that this disruption is doing and will do to people’s lives, to their businesses and to their jobs. But at present there are just no easy options. The way ahead is hard and it is still true that sadly many lives will be lost.’
Under the new guidelines, there are only four acceptable reasons for going out. These are: to shop for basics, ‘as infrequently as possible’; to exercise once a day, which should be done alone; to care for a vulnerable person or attend an urgent medical appointment; or to travel to or from work where it is impossible to work from home.
Police will be given new powers from Thursday to fine those who gather outside in groups of more than two. Weddings and christenings will be banned. Funerals will be allowed with greatly restricted attendance. And the tourist industry was also effectively shut down, with camping and caravan sites, bed and breakfasts and most hotels told to close.
The new restrictions will see the immediate closure of most shops, including clothing and electrical outlets and department stores.
Hairdressers and beauty salons will be ordered to shut their doors, as will libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms in parks. The only stores allowed to remain open are supermarkets, pharmacies, grocers, petrol stations, corner shops, hardware stores, pet shops and newsagents. The move follows fury in the UK government at the failure of sections of the public to follow ‘social distancing’ rules.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday condemned those who thronged to parks, beaches, shops and markets at the weekend for their ‘very selfish’ behaviour.
Government sources last night described the package as a ‘massive hardening of the “stay at home” message’.
But ministers have stopped short of even stricter measures taken in countries like Italy and France, such as letting only key workers travel and shutting down cities. Other events include:
The death toll in Britain has increased to 335;
÷Mr Johnson asked China for advice on tackling the crisis;
÷Hospitals were told that they had to discharge patients in just three hours to free beds quickly;
The government told families to cancel Easter travel plans and not to travel to second homes – and return from them if they have already fled;
÷Publicans were told they could lose their licences permanently for running secret drinking dens.
Scientists modelling the growth of the virus found cutting social contact by three quarters could help halt and reverse its spread.
But data from the weekend
Social distancing calls were ignored
found that activities in town and cithy centres was only down by 30%, and in parks up by 200%.
Martin Hewitt, of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: ‘Measures to ensure social distancing have so far not had the necessary effect. These new measures are sensible, based on scientific evidence and give people clarity.’