THE Prime Minister is expected to announce an England-wide lockdown on Monday, it has been reported.
Whitehall sources confirmed yesterday that Boris Johnson had met senior Cabinet colleagues including the Chancellor and Health Secretary to discuss tightening restrictions south of the Border, where cases are rising faster than the “worst-case scenario”.
Scientific experts advising the UK Government have been calling for tighter “circuit-breaker” style restrictions to be introduced since September, but ministers insisted the tiered approach is the right one.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson 'preparing for England-wide lockdown as soon as next week'
According to The Times a government source said Johnson could hold a press conference to make the announcement early next week, adding that while a final decision has not been made “the data is really bad”.
They said: "We're seeing Covid-19 rising all over the country and hospitals are struggling to cope. There has been a shift in our position.”
- What would an England-wide lockdown include?
While it appears final decisions are yet to be made, it is likely everything will be closed except essential shops and education facilities, which includes nurseries, schools and universities. Tougher measures for the most affected regions are also being considered.
- How long would it last?
Professor Jeremy Farrar, an infectious diseases expert and Sage member, tweeted: “The sooner we get on top of the disease, reduce transmission, R<1, the sooner we can get our society back to normal and the economy back on track.”
The Times reported that the lockdown could last until December 1.
- Are other countries taking similar action?
Second waves are hitting hard in various countries.
France, Germany and Belgium this week announced national lockdown restrictions. President Emmanuel Macron said France was in danger of being “overwhelmed” by a second wave that would be “harder than the first”. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of a long, hard winter ahead.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the continent was “deep in the second wave”. Countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic, which were not too badly affected the first time around, are now suffering sharp increases in infection rates.
Scientists are concerned that the UK Government has waited too long to introduce new restrictions, however. Wales is currently already in the midst of a circuit-breaker-style national lockdown, and Scotland has had tighter restrictions in place for several weeks.
- Would an English lockdown be replicated in Scotland?
The devolved nations control their Covid restrictions, so whatever Boris Johnson announces would not automatically apply to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. As mentioned previously Wales is already in the midst of a national lockdown.
This week Nicola Sturgeon announced which level of restrictions each health board area in Scotland would face from Monday but stressed she could not rule out a further national lockdown.
However, taking that kind of action would be up to the Scottish Government. Reports claiming non-specific “national” lockdowns are on the way are not helpful.
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