Photographer: Tolga Akmen / AFP / Getty Images
Photographer: Tolga Akmen / AFP / Getty Images
The third coronavirus blockage in the UK seems to be lasting, as the government has warned that it is too early to consider relaxation restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel have not reiterated previous assurances that Britain will return to normal by April, even though the mass vaccination program has continued to expand to reach 5 million people.
Instead, the government’s focus has been on strengthening compliance with current restrictions, amid concerns that too many people are breaking the rules, making it more difficult to control the spread of the disease.
The UK considers that paying people to stay at home in the midst of blockade violations
Ministers are considering making £ 500 ($ 683) payments to all those who test positive for Covid to persuade more people with symptoms to take the test, the Guardian reported on Thursday. The policy, which would cost about £ 2 billion a month, would be designed to overcome people’s fear of losing income if they were forced to isolate themselves through a positive test, the newspaper said, citing a document dated 19 January.
Patel announced that new police fines of £ 800 ($ 1,097) will be imposed on people caught at house parties. When asked if the public should book the summer holidays, she said the advice is now to stay home.
“It’s too early to say or even speculate when we can lift the restrictions,” Patel said. “This country remains in control of a pandemic.”
Summer
Earlier, Johnson was asked if the blockade should last until the summer and did not rule it out, warning only that the new strain of coronavirus is “much more contagious” and that the UK is facing “what will be without no doubt, it lasted a few weeks before ”.
Their comments suggest a more gloomy outlook than a few days ago, when ministers said that the hope to start opening up the economy in the first half of March.
Johnson is under pressure from members of his Conservative party who are pushing for him to draw up a plan to ease the blockade as soon as the government reaches its goal of vaccinating the most vulnerable 15 million people, a goal it wants to achieve by February 15th. .
Britain suffered its worst day of the pandemic on Wednesday, with more than 1,800 deaths in 24 hours, as Boris Johnson’s chief adviser warned that some hospitals now look “like a war zone”. Laura Wright reports.
“Vaccinations will, of course, bring immunity to Covid, but they must also bring immunity from blockages and restrictions,” Conservative MP Mark Harper, chairman of the so-called Covid recovery group, said in a statement. “This cycle of blockages and restrictions causes immense damage.”
regularly
Shops, restaurants and schools are closed, and people have been told to stay home unless absolutely necessary. Restrictions threaten to push the economy into another recession, after suffering the worst decline in three centuries.
The Government of Northern Ireland has announced an extension of the blockade of the region until 5 March.
The latest data from the UK has shown that 1,290 people have died from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, reaching 95,829, the highest number of deaths in Europe. This month had a succession of records of both new cases and daily deaths.
Read more: Why are the mutated variants of coronavirus so worrying: QuickTake
Patel said that while most people are obeying rules, some present “irresponsible behavior” which is “a significant threat to public health”.
Fines for attending parties will double for each additional violation up to a maximum penalty of £ 6,400, she said. Party organizers have already faced fines of £ 10,000.
Read more: The UK has now given over 5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine
The new enforcement action will apply to any gatherings of more than 15 people discovered by police as ministers become tougher on those who violate blocking restrictions.
Vin Diwakar, medical director of the National Health Service for London, said Britain was facing the biggest public health crisis since World War II and compared breaking the rules by hosting or attending big parties at London. “Turning on a light in the middle of an interruption in the Blitz. ”
“Don’t just endanger yourself in your home,” he said. “It endangers your entire street and your entire community.”
(Raise the £ 500 self-isolation payments to the fourth paragraph)