and Trace high-vis jackets as they work at an NHS COVID-19 walk-in
testing centre in Bolton, northern England on September 9, 2020, as
local lockdown restrictions are put in place due to a spike in
cases of the novel coronavirus in the city. – The UK government,
which controls health policy in England, imposed tougher
restrictions on Bolton, near the northwest city of Manchester,
after a “very significant rise” in cases. Bolton was found to have
120 cases per 100,000 people — the highest in the country. (Photo
by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
The UK government on Wednesday sets out tighter
rules on social gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus,
with concern mounting at rising infection rates among the
young.
The law in England will change from next week to reduce the
number of people who can gather socially from 30 to six, with some
exemptions.
A new public information campaign was also launched to emphasise
the importance of hand washing, the use of face coverings and
maintaining social distancing.
“We need to act now to stop the virus spreading,” Prime Minister
Boris Johnson said in comments before an expected news conference
later Wednesday.
More than 41,500 people confirmed to have coronavirus have died
in Britain, the worst toll in Europe.
The death rate has now fallen to its lowest level since
mid-March.
But as in other parts of Europe, cases are increasing, with
almost 3,000 daily infections reported in recent days, and concern
the outbreak is slipping out of control.
Johnson’s office said medical and scientific advisers had agreed
that “urgent action is needed”, while police had also asked for the
rules to be simplified.
Current guidelines stipulate that people must not socialise
outside in a group of more than six people from different
households.
But the law actually puts that limit at 30 in private
spaces.
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From Monday, this will be reduced to six, except for large
families, weddings, funerals, organised team sports, workplaces and
educational settings.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News television in an
interview: “Abiding by these rules is absolutely vital to protect
life.
“We’ve seen the increase in the number of cases, sadly, in the
last few days. We’ve seen that across Europe, there’s a second wave
that many countries have experienced.”
– Targeted action –
The UK government, which controls health policy in England,
imposed tougher restrictions on Bolton, near the northwest city of
Manchester, after a “very significant rise” in cases.
Bolton was found to have 120 cases per 100,000 people — the
highest in the country.
Hancock told parliament on Tuesday contact tracing data had
shown this was “partly due to socialising by people in their 20s
and 30s”.
A number of pubs were identified as hotspots, and curbs were put
on opening hours of hospitality venues, and locals were banned from
socialising with people outside their household.
The latest targeted local restrictions follow similar action in
Caerphilly, south Wales, and East Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire,
in the west of Scotland.
The developments come as the UK government is trying to get the
economy moving again after nearly three months of lockdown imposed
in late March.
It has encouraged people to go back to work and use a
government-subsidised restaurant scheme to boost revenues for
eateries hit hard by the shutdown.
Critics say such measures have only exacerbated infection rates
as young people in particular head out to pubs with scant regard
for social distancing.
Hancock warned that although younger people were less likely to
develop serious forms of Covid-19, they could easily pass it to
those more vulnerable, particularly the elderly.
AFP
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