UK virus restrictions escalating
LONDON, Sept 19, (AP): Fresh nationwide lockdown restrictions in England appear to be on the cards soon as the British government targeted more areas Friday in an attempt to suppress a sharp spike in new coronavirus infections.
With more restrictions on gatherings and other activities announced for large parts of England, there is growing speculation that the UK may be sliding toward a lockdown by stealth in the coming weeks, partly because the testing regime is struggling to cope with higher demand.
“We want to avoid a national lockdown altogether, that is the last line of defense,” British Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC radio. “It is not the proposal that’s on the table.”
His comments came amid mounting speculation that the government will announce fresh curbs on the hospitality sector, such as pubs and restaurants, potentially involving curfews – something already in place in areas facing extra lockdown restrictions. According to the BBC, the British government’s chief scientific adviser and medical officer have warned of another serious coronavirus outbreak and many more deaths by the end of October if there were no further interventions soon. Possible measures being considered under this so-called “circuit break” are asking some hospitality businesses to close, or limiting opening hours, for a period – potentially two weeks.
Without going into specifics, Hancock said the country has to “come together” over the coming weeks to get on top of the spike. He said new transmissions are largely taking place in social settings and have already led a doubling in the number of people being hospitalized with the virus every seven to eight days.
The testing data are fanning fears that the country with Europe’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak may be in for a second wave during the winter. Critics say the government has lost control of the virus, partly as a result of the testing woes being reported up and down the UK and that’s why new measures are being introduced.
A weekly survey released Friday by the Office for National Statistics revealed that an average of 6,000 people in England were estimated to have been newly infected with the virus between Sept 4 to 10, about double the level the previous week. In a separate gauge that is hobbled by the lack of testing, the government reported another 4,322 new confirmed cases in the UK, the highest since early May. The spike, which has been largely seen among young adults, has already led to lockdown restrictions being reimposed. Already this week, a ban on social gatherings of more than six people, including children, has come into effect for England. The other nations of the UK – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – have announced similar clampdowns on meetings. There are also more targeted restrictions across the UK in areas seeing acute spikes.