The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has imposed a new lockdown on England from Monday to at least mid-February in a desperate move to contain the more contagious strain of the coronavirus which has been spreading quite rapidly in most parts of England.
Mr. Boris Johnson made this announcement in a virtual press conference held over the weekend.
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According to him, “There’s no doubt in that fighting the old variant to the virus, our collective efforts were working and would have continued to work. But we now have a new variant, and it’s been both frustrating and alarming to see the speed with which the new variant is spreading”
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What you should know
According to the new restrictions…
- Most non-essential businesses and restaurants will be required to limit service to takeout orders—but outdoor playgrounds and houses of worship will stay open as long as social distancing is maintained.
- All schools will be closed except to the children of essential workers and vulnerable students.
- Residents may not be allowed to leave their homes except for essential work, essential shopping, medical assistance, exercise, as well as meeting with support or childcare “bubbles,” which are pairs of households allowed to mix under certain circumstances.
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Why this matters
According to Johnson, the number of patients in hospitals has increased by nearly a third in the last week and as well, the number of deaths increased by 20%.
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There is no evidence yet that the U.K. mutation is more deadly than previous strains but the research conducted earlier succinctly suggests that it is 75% more contagious, making the virus harder to control even as England begins to vaccinate its population.
