(CMR) UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johson, announced Saturday that he will be imposing a second national lockdown across England starting on Thursday. From November 5, the tier 2 lock will close all nonessential shops, restaurants, pubs and leisure facilities for at least a month.
The PM's announcement was made as the country reached the 1 million mark – a sharp increase in the spread of the virus across England in the past week. Experts warned that the numbers would be getting worse with the NHS projecting it will be overwhelmed and run out of beds by the first week of December.
The decision as made after scientific modeling suggests the daily numbers could reach as high as 4,000 per day with 85,000 winter deaths by mid-December unless drastic action is taken.
Experts suggest the very likely possibility that it will last beyond December 2 as his Cabinet members shared they would “be guided by the facts”. The UK has surpassed 1 million total cases averaging about 22,000 new infections per day with 169,003 hospitalized. 46,555 persons have also died from the virus as of October 27. However, the Office for National Statistics estimated that 568,100 people were infected last week.
Unlike the initial lockdown in March, this does not extend to schools, universities and workers who cannot work remotely from home. Essential shops such as supermarkets will remain open. Outdoor exercise is still permitted but foreign travel will be banned. There should be no mixing of households except in outdoor spaces within your support bubble or 1 person from another household.
Scotland has warned that people should not travel to or from the UK as it continues with its regional tiered strategy. First minister Nicola Sturgeon urged:
“For now, we are asking people not to travel to or from England at all, except for essential purposes.”
In Northern Ireland, pubs and restaurants were closed for four weeks starting on October 16 with the exception of takeaways and deliveries. Schools were closed for two weeks.
The government also indicated that it would be extended a furlough to assist those impacted by the lockdown.
Locally, many Caymanians have mixed feelings about travelers from the UK as Cayman remains on the exempted countries list for the UK. Many students have expressed the desire to return home for the holidays as BA has put on additional flights to Grand Cayman. Cayman is on the exempted list of countries that UK citizens can travel to.
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