More than 20 million people have been incarcerated in England since this Sunday, when strict restrictive measures come into effect amid the alarming rise in cases of Covid-19, which the British government is linking to a new species.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday imposed draconian measures on London and large parts of South East England, which are at risk level 4 – severe – as of today, with the closure of non-essential shops, gyms and hairdressers. like the ban on going to other parts of the country.
With these rules, the flexible plans approved by the government between December 22 and 28 have also been adapted to allow families and friends to gather for Christmas.
Those living on level 4 will not be able to join other people living on lower levels, while the rest of England, which is between levels 1 to 3 – low, medium and substantial – this flexibility will only be reserved for Christmas Day, a measure that will also apply in Scotland and Wales.
The rules set in England last two weeks and will be revised on December 30th.
A PLACE FOR THE STORES GOING TO CHRISTMAS
London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC on Sunday that the government’s last-minute announcement has been a “severe blow” to families and businesses and has caused “fear, despair, sadness and disappointment” to thousands of people.
“I’m afraid this makes it very difficult for people like me to ask people to listen to us if we change our minds,” said Khan, complaining that the central executive might have put in place these measures before families made plans and purchases. did. to celebrate Christmas.
Nonetheless, the mayor asked Londoners to abide by the rules, especially since hospitals in London have the same number of covid-19 patients as in the first wave in April.
The streets of central London were very busy on Saturday with thousands of people doing Christmas shopping.
A NEW STRAIN THAT SPREADS EASIER
The United Kingdom has notified the World Trade Organization (WHO) of the emergence of the new variant of the coronavirus, although there is no evidence that it can cause more deaths or that it has an impact on the effectiveness of already developed vaccines.
Scientists have warned that this species is more contagious and spreads more easily, which could increase the R – the reproductive rate of an infectious disease.
The R is currently in the UK between 1.1 and 1.2, implying an ‘exponential’ spread of the virus.
The government’s scientific director, Patrick Vallance, has indicated that the species – known as VUI 202012/01 – could have originated in London or Kent (South East English) in September.
“This new variant is not only progressing quickly but is also becoming the dominant variant,” he added.