
<p id="h-topline"><strong>TOPLINE</strong> In a bid to contain a more contagious strain of coronavirus that is spreading rapidly, Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a new lockdown on England on Monday that will last until at least mid-February.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



<ul><li>Coronavirus is again surging in the U.K. because of a new, more transmissible mutation of Covid-19 <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/12/23/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-englands-new-covid-19-variant/?sh=908bf27aeb3b">called</a> B.1.1.7.</li></ul>



<ul><li>The lockdown will close most non-essential businesses, and restaurants will be required to limit service to takeout orders—but outdoor playgrounds and houses of worship will stay <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielHewittITV/status/1346189520170070017?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">open</a> as long as social distancing is maintained.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Schools will be closed except to the children of essential workers and vulnerable students.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Residents may not leave their homes except for essential work, essential shopping, medical assistance, exercise, as well as meeting with <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">support</a> or <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-childcare-bubble-with-another-household" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">childcare</a> “bubbles,” which are pairs of households allowed to mix under certain circumstances.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Johnson’s announcement comes after Scotland <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55531069" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imposed</a> a similar lockdown earlier Monday.</li></ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



<p>“There’s no doubt in that fighting the old variant to the virus, our collective efforts were working and would have continued to work. But we now have a new variant, and it’s been both frustrating and alarming to see the speed with which the new variant is spreading,” Johnson said.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



<p>The number of patients in hospitals has increased by nearly a third in the last week, Johnson said, and the number of deaths has increased 20%. Though there isn’t any evidence the U.K. mutation is more deadly than previous strains, early research has suggested it’s 75% more contagious, making the virus harder to control even as England begins to vaccinate its population.&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h4>



<p>40%. That’s how many more patients are in hospitals now compared to the first peak earlier this year, Johnson said.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h4>



<p>Unlike the previous lockdown, takeaway alcohol is banned this time around.</p>



<p>&#8211;<em>By Rachel Sandler, Forbes Staff</em></p>


Boris Johnson Announces Third National Coronavirus Lockdown

England Will Go Into National Lockdown Amid Covid-19 Surge


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong> &#8211;   Boris Johnson’s plan to ease restrictions in England has raised a fresh set of questions about worker safety and the timing of his new “stay alert” message, and has set the U.K. prime minister on a collision course with devolved nations Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are insisting their residents “stay at home” to beat coronavirus.</p>



<p><strong>KEY FACTS</strong></p>



<ul><li>Johnson <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-address-to-the-nation-on-coronavirus-10-may-2020" target="_blank">addressed</a> the U.K. on Sunday night to announce a slight easing of restrictions in England, but saying it was not time to end the lockdown this week.</li></ul>



<ul><li>He unveiled a new message of “Stay alert, control the virus, save lives”, but the message is at odds with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are sticking with the original message of “Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.”</li></ul>



<ul><li>WORK: People who cannot work from home “should be actively encouraged” to return to work this week. Later, the government said the changes would come into effect from Wednesday.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Johnson said this includes constructions and manufacturing workers, but his message has caused confusion over which professions would be allowed to return to work. Johnson also discouraged people returning to work in England from taking public transport, and said they should walk, drive or cycle instead.</li></ul>



<ul><li>SCHOOLS: From June 1, the youngest school pupils, including reception, and primary students up to age 11, could return to the classroom. Secondary school pupils who have key exams next year could “get time with their teachers” before breaking for summer.</li></ul>



<ul><li>BUSINESS: A phased reopening of shops could begin as early as June 1, while hotels and restaurants could open on July 1 at the earliest “provided they enforce social distancing,” Johnson said.</li></ul>



<ul><li>LEISURE: People in England were told they can have an unlimited amount of daily exercise and can play sports in parks with the same members of their household. People can also meet up with one member of another household in a park, but maintain a two metre distance.</li></ul>



<ul><li>TRAVEL: People who are travelling into the U.K. by air and other means will “soon” be put under quarantine. It is not yet known for how long, or when this will be enforced. But passengers from Ireland, and now France, are exempt from the rule.</li></ul>



<p><strong>WHAT TO WATCH FOR</strong></p>



<p>The government will release 50-page guidance on the new rules on Monday afternoon.</p>



<p><strong>ADDITIONAL INFO</strong></p>



<p>For lockdown to be lifted altogether, the British government says that five tests need to be met: Ensuring the national health service can cope with the epidemic, a sustained fall in the daily death rate, a fall in the rate of infection or ‘R’, securing enough PPE to meet demand, and making sure that the risk of a second peak is low.</p>



<p><strong>CHIEF CRITICS</strong></p>



<p>There are a few, with most opposition centred on the government’s confusing messaging, short notice, lack of safety information for workers, and concerns that the new guidance leaves white collar staff protected, while factory and shop floor workers face the greatest risk.</p>



<p>The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are united in their opposition to Johnson’s ambiguous “stay alert” message. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon simply reinforced the original “Stay Home, Protect The NHS, Save Lives” message that her nation is sticking with. Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said his nation’s “stay at home” message&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/fmwales/status/1259547228139651074?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">remains</a>.</p>



<p>Unions have criticised Johnson’s speech as not being well thought through, and say that the government should be issuing mandatory instructions to workplaces to ensure worker safety, and not just guidance.</p>



<p>Len McCluskey, general secretary of the U.K.’s biggest union, Unite, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2020/may/mccluskey-decisions-taken-now-will-shape-our-countrys-future-we-need-clarity-to-build-public-confidence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>: “People cannot get to work safely unless there is safe transport for them to use. Yet there is now a real risk that in a few hours&#8217; time, workers will be cramming onto public transport, putting at risk their lives and those of others.”</p>



<p>Meanwhile, teachers unions called Johnson’s plans “reckless.” General secretary of teaching union NASUWT told the&nbsp;<em>i</em>&nbsp;<a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/education/coronavirus-lockdown-restrictions-easing-schools-teachers-criticise-june-opening-2848500" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">newspaper</a>: “Signalling 1 June is more likely than not to create confusion if not some degree of chaos out there in the system.”</p>



<p>Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, said the government’s plans raise “as many questions as answers.” He criticised the government’s lack of clarity around returning to work, that puts millions of people in a scramble to prepare for entering the workplace with just 12 hours notice.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On a serious note the only change in that announcement was that they’re now sacrificing the working class out loud. JOIN. A. UNION.</p>&mdash; Eve Livingston (@eve_rebecca) <a href="https://twitter.com/eve_rebecca/status/1259548880116604928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2020</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p><strong>KEY BACKGROUND</strong></p>



<p>The U.K. went on lockdown on March 23, after scientific models published days earlier suggested that if left unchecked, coronavirus could lead to the deaths of 250,000 people. The government has maintained that it is being guided by science, but with the worst death toll in Europe at 32,000 coronavirus-linked deaths, Johnson’s government is facing serious questions from critics over its strategy, failure to source enough protective gear for health workers, and implement a large-scale testing scheme. With the number of daily deaths falling, ministers say the U.K. has moved through the peak of the epidemic.</p>


Tag: Boris Johnson

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

England Will Go Into National Lockdown Amid Covid-19 Surge

Boris Johnson’s Attempt To Ease England’s Lockdown Is Confusing. Here’s What We Know So Far