‘Tipping point’: UK braces for possible lockdown as second coronavirus wave builds

Millions of Britons are facing new social restrictions as coronavirus cases grow at an alarming rate and the UK braces for a possible second nationwide lockdown. Conflicting messages from the government, a plethora of different rules for parts of the country, as well as a chaotic testing system, has made the population increasingly difficult to manage. There was concern that even with restrictions, many people may ignore them this time. With daily cases of Covid-19 at the highest level since May, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK was at a “tipping point” in its battle against a second wave of infections. On Sunday, he said that a second UK lockdown was possible unless people complied with rules that include limiting gatherings to six people. That came as Britain recorded another 3,899 infections overnight on Sunday and the death toll rose by 18. “I don’t rule it out, I don’t want to see it,” Hancock said “If everybody follows the rules, then we can avoid further national lockdown.” The first national lockdown earlier this year hammered the economy of the UK, which is facing its worst recession in 100 years. Hancock also announced £10,000 (US$13,000) fines for people who repeatedly flout self-isolation rules. He also encouraged people to report neighbours to the police if rules were being broken. As part of the government’s strategy to contain local outbreaks, 19 per cent of the population will be under stricter rules by Tuesday, including 1.8 million in Scotland. Just how rigid the rules will be depends on the region. In Greater Manchester for example, people will not be able to mix outside their immediate household or “support bubble”. In the north-east regions, pubs and restaurants will close at 10pm. Prime Minister Boris Johnson met ministers, officials and scientific advisers on Sunday to weigh the impacts of a new lockdown. A decision about the scope and timing of a new lockdown was due to be made at a meeting of the government’s Covid strategy committee in the next few days, but Downing Street has said it would ultimately be Johnson’s call, The Times reported on Sunday. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was to hold a meeting with local council leaders on Monday, fuelling speculation that London could soon follow other major cities like Birmingham and Manchester and impose tighter restrictions. Boris Johnson wants UK workers back in the office, but many prefer home It has also emerged that Johnson has not held an emergency security meeting on the pandemic since May, with regional leaders demanding a seat at the table so the country could respond in a coordinated fashion. “There is a vacancy at the heart of the United Kingdom, and it needs urgently to be filled, so we can talk to each other, share information, pool ideas and demonstrate a determination that the whole of the country can face these challenges together at this most difficult time,” said First Minister of Wales Mark Drayford. “It’s all a terrible mess,” said Anna Soubry, a former Conservative public health minister who is now a government opponent. “We all were behind the government at the beginning because we understood it was a very serious issue, a very serious disease. Now we are in the serious territory of alienating huge swathes of the British public.” Britain has recorded more than 396,000 cases since the outbreak started. Its official death toll was nearly 42,000, Europe’s highest total. The country will soon head into winter months, a factor that could see a dramatic spike in cases. Spain has the highest number of cases in Europe with 850,000 people in the capital Madrid facing new limits on travel. In France, cities including Marseilles and Nice are bringing in new restrictions. The UK government has struggled to roll out an effective testing and tracing system. People in Britain have complained of not being able book coronavirus tests, even in the country’s top Covid-19 hotspots. Britain’s ‘world-beating’ coronavirus testing struggles The government said high demand was putting a strain on the country’s testing system, but it was working to clear backlogs. However Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party, accused the government and the prime minister of defecting blame. “Under @Boris Johnson its always someone else’s fault – civil servants, the public health body they voted to create in the first place, or even the public for doing the right thing and trying to get a Covid test,” she tweeted. A nurse at a large London teaching hospital who came down with coronavirus symptoms said she was told to go into work to get a test. “I didn’t feel well, I don’t have a car and I don’t have a bicycle. What did they expect me to do, jump in a cab and infect the driver?” she told South China Morning Post. She eventually opted to send a swab test through the mail and was waiting for the results. The UK government has also struggled with consistent messaging, resulting in confusion. “The constant U-turns by the government, the different rules for different places and circumstances is proving quite a challenge,” said 35-year-old digital music specialist Steve Titmus. “I went to a gig Wednesday which was ‘socially distanced’ – but was it really? “There were loads of people standing close together – you can do that, you can travel to work, you can go and shoot birds in groups of more than six, but you can’t go and see an elderly relative.” In coronavirus-hit UK, lockdown has been a royal pain in the arts Titmus was referring to the government’s controversial decision to allow the grouse shooting season to go ahead. The sport is a major money earner for large estates in Scotland and elsewhere. Any attempt to lock down the economy again may be fiercely resisted with many small business owners warning it could be the last straw that sends them into bankruptcy. Scientists, including government advisers, were also divided on whether another lockdown, even a “circuit-breaker” for a short period, would not be enough to contain the fast-spreading virus. Johnson said he may consider suspending the “rule of six” for Christmas. Oxford University professor Carl Heneghan – who leads the university’s Centre for Evidence Based Medicine – said rather than introduce new restrictions now the government should consider extending the Christmas break and impose a lockdown then. “Often when we come back in January, there’s a significant rise in deaths – about 5,000 per week more than what we see right now. And that’s due to the seasonal effect,” he told the BBC. “Therefore, if you’re looking at a break and when we need it, you’re looking at the midwinter when we might run into problems. It would be more explainable to people why we’re doing it then than now.” Like the United States, there is also a growing movement in the UK against restrictions, including mask-wearing. A demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London on Saturday attracted hundreds of people and led to clashes with the police and more than 30 arrests.

‘Tipping point’: UK braces for possible lockdown as second coronavirus wave builds

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Britain faces a second wave of coronavirus infections Government forced to introduce tougher measures, hefty fines

Britain faces a second wave of coronavirus infections

Government forced to introduce tougher measures, hefty fines