Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that England will go back into a hard lockdown for four weeks to stop the rapidly increasing COVID-19 infections.
The UK had attempted to slow this uptick by having hotspots be placed under different levels of lockdown but this has proven unsuccessful in stopping cases from increasing.
Johnson said in a news conference that the projections based on current numbers suggest a catastrophic situation for the country should they not take these drastic lockdown steps, reports the BBC.
“Doctors and nurses would be forced to choose which patients to treat, who would get oxygen and who wouldn’t, who would live and who would die,” Johnson told reporters.
The new restrictions come into place from Thursday, November. They include: Staying at home except for specific reasons such as work which cannot be done from home and education.
Meeting indoors or in private gardens will not be allowed, which is why pubs, restaurants, gyms, and non-essential shops will be closed. However, schools and universities may stay open.
Meeting one other person from another household outside is allowed and the UK’s policy of forming support bubbles can also continue. Support bubbles are a designated group of people who may not be in your household who you have close physical contact with so may meet.
“Christmas is going to be different this year, perhaps very different, but it’s my sincere hope and belief that by taking tough action now we can allow families across the country to be together,” said Johnson.
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