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U.Okay. Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered England back into a national lockdown Monday evening that can final for no less than seven weeks.
“The Government is once again instructing you to stay at home,” he advised residents in a televised address that revived the “stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives” message of the primary lockdown in spring.
Earlier on Monday, the chief medical officers of all 4 U.Okay. nations advisable the nationwide COVID alert stage transfer from stage 4 to stage 5 — the primary time it has hit its most severe level.
“We are not confident that the NHS can handle a further sustained rise in cases and without further action, there is a material risk of the NHS in several areas being overwhelmed over the next 21 days,” the group declared.
And Johnson’s announcement adopted one by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier within the day through which she put her nation underneath similar restrictions together with a brand new authorized requirement to remain at house for all however important functions.
Here’s a rundown of the brand new guidelines:
New measures in England
The new restrictions come into impact legally on Wednesday, however the PM stated individuals ought to begin following them immediately. They’re broadly consistent with the March lockdown, with a couple of notable variations. There will likely be a evaluate within the week starting February 15, with ministers hoping to elevate the nationwide restrictions and return to a tiered system when half-term is over within the week of February 22. You can read the rules in full here.
STRONGER STAY AT HOME MESSAGE: People in England can solely go away house for one in all 5 causes:
1. To go to work whether it is “impossible” so that you can earn a living from home, for instance for those who work in building.
2. To store for necessities equivalent to meals or drugs.
3. For train, which you are able to do with members of your family, your assist bubble, or with one different particular person from a distinct family (a change from March).
4. To present care or assist to a susceptible particular person.
5. And for medical causes or to flee home violence or hurt.
ENFORCEMENT: As with earlier than, police can have authorized powers to make sure compliance, together with fines. A authorities official advised POLITICO’s London Playbook that, whereas they insist they aren’t making an attempt in charge the general public, there may be mounting proof of non-compliance with the earlier guidelines that has contributed to the larger unfold of the virus.
SCHOOLS CLOSED: From Tuesday, all main and secondary faculties and schools will transfer to distant studying, other than kids of key employees, who will nonetheless go in. That can have a knock-on impact for GCSE and A stage exams. “It is not possible or fair for all exams to go ahead this summer as normal. The education secretary will work with Ofqual to put in place alternative arrangements,” Johnson stated in his televised handle. The Telegraph reviews that: “One option under consideration is for some core subjects, such as Maths and English, to be examined, with other subjects reverting to course assessment.” BTEC and different vocational exams will nonetheless go forward this week.
PRE-SCHOOL: Nurseries and early years suppliers will stay open.
HIGHER EDUCATION: Students cannot return to universities. They’ll be anticipated to check from their present place of residence.
SHOPS: Essential shops can keep open, together with backyard facilities and builders’ retailers. Dentists and opticians stay open. But all non-essential retail, hospitality and private care companies should shut.
RESTAURANTS: Can proceed takeaway companies, however click-and-collect alcohol and takeaway pints are banned.
PLAYGROUNDS: Will stay open, in contrast to in March.
ZOOS: Closed.
SUPPORT BUBBLES AND CHILDCARE BUBBLES: Staying — one other change from March.
AMATEUR SPORT: Outdoor sports activities venues together with tennis courts and golf programs should shut. Outdoor crew sports activities won’t be permitted.
ELITE SPORT: Permitted — together with Premier League soccer.
SHIELDING RETURNS: Clinically extraordinarily susceptible individuals ought to keep at house as a lot as attainable and solely go away for train and well being appointments. They mustn’t go to work and will keep away from retailers.
CLEANERS AND BUILDERS: You can nonetheless have individuals into your home to do work.
PROPERTY: House shifting and viewings nonetheless allowed.
DRIVING TESTS: Suspended.
TRAVEL WITHIN THE UK: Traveling lengthy distances throughout the nation shouldn’t be permitted (unhealthy information for any authorities advisers on eyesight testing trips to Barnard Castle).
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: Only important journeys are permitted, so no holidays.
PUBLIC SUPPORT: Savanta ComRes has a snap ballot through which 79 p.c assist the brand new lockdown — however 62 p.c say the federal government reacted too slowly, together with 53 p.c of 2019 Conservative voters.
THE WAY OUT: Unlike with the opposite lockdowns, Johnson has outlined a fairly clear, if formidable exit technique: vaccinating some 13 million aged and susceptible individuals by mid-March. A well being official advised London Playbook: “The vaccine is the way out of this and through our delivery plan, we expect to offer around 13 million people their first dose by the middle of February. This is a massive national effort for the country to rally around.”
Coronavirus measures in Scotland
STAY AT HOME: Staying at house for the whole lot besides important journey turned a authorized requirement from midnight, after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon introduced further restrictions Monday on high of the lockdown mainland Scotland has been underneath since Boxing Day. Schools may also stay closed to the overwhelming majority of pupils till February. Sturgeon indicated that she is extra involved concerning the virus than she has been “at any time since March last year,” including that on the present charge of hospitalizations, NHS companies may very well be overrun inside three to 4 weeks. Scottish government guidance here.
Coronavirus measures in Wales
ONLINE LEARNING: The authorities and First Minister Mark Drakeford bowed to strain from educating unions to make a nationwide determination on college closures, with the training minister saying Monday evening that on-line studying will proceed in all faculties till no less than January 18. Some faculties had been as a result of return as quickly as Wednesday, and Health Minister Vaughan Gething advised a press convention simply hours earlier that such a transfer was “a last resort” they hoped to not use. Wales has been underneath a spring-style keep at house lockdown since earlier than Christmas.
Coronavirus measures in Northern Ireland
EXTENDED REMOTE LEARNING: A late assembly of the Executive discovered settlement to hitch the opposite nations in placing keep at house into legislation and extending a period of remote learning at faculties, with extra particulars to be revealed Tuesday. Northern Ireland’s seven-day charge of instances per 100,000 individuals is now 660 — greater than triple what it was two weeks in the past.
This article is a part of POLITICO’s premium coverage service: Pro HealthCare. From drug pricing, EMA, vaccines, pharma and extra, our specialised journalists hold you on high of the matters driving the well being care coverage agenda. Email [email protected] for a complimentary trial.
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