Londoners urged to stay at home to curb crowding on public transport
London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, called on people to stay at home after the extent of overcrowding on the UK capital’s train, Tube and bus networks became clear.
Videos emerged of London Underground carriages and platforms thronged with commuters not keeping their distance, several of whom had ignored the requirement to wear face masks.
“We are in lockdown and it is meant to be only essential workers travelling to work,” Roman Catholic priest Father Grant Ciccone told The National on Friday.
“This enclosed space is a Petri dish where the new variant can spread from person to person.”
Fr Ciccone was critical of the UK’s leadership and Transport for London, a local government agency, calling on them to enforce travel restrictions.
London Underground blamed the chaotic scenes on staff shortages but the root of the problem is more complex.
This was made clear to Mr Khan when he followed up his initial tweet with another, stressing that the safest place for everyone was at home.
He was reminded by one tweeter, Adam, that for many, staying at home meant unpaid bills and possible eviction.
The situation illustrates the conflict that arises when public health aims are not aligned with fiscal policy.
Throughout the pandemic, the UK government has been criticised for failing to provide sufficient financial support to see Britons through the pandemic, despite spending nearly £300 billion ($406bn) in 2020 to fight the virus and its wider economic impact.
At Christmas, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent England into its third lockdown in less than 10 months, but compliance, while better than during the second lockdown, in November, has yet to match that of the first, in spring.
Earlier on Sunday, British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab suggested that the government could ease the restrictions in March, as the UK mass vaccination programme gathers pace.
Only essential workers should be travelling … this enclosed space is a Petri dish where the new variant can spread
FATHER GRANT CICCONE Roman Catholic priest