Prime minister Boris Johnson officially announced today, October 31, that England will be subject to a second national lockdown from Thursday, November 5, to Wednesday, December 2.
A new lockdown ruling will come into effect from next week, November 5, for an initial period of four weeks, as the England tries to reduce the spiking infection rates and rising daily death tolls. The plan is to remain in a full shutdown until December 2, where businesses will be able to reopen ahead of the busy festive month.
The decision to move the whole of England into a full-on national lockdown comes after the government divided the country into different tiers – 1 , 2, or 3 – depending on the number of cases per 100,000 people; the likes of Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Liverpool were some of the first areas put into the highest tier.
Speaking at a press conference today, Johnson said: ‘We’re not going back to the full scale lockdown of March and April, the measures that I’ve outlined are far less primitive and less restrictive. Though, I’m afraid, from Thursday, the basic message is the same: Stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives.’
The new measures put in place today will see public places and businesses shut as they did in March. However, essential shops like pharmacies and supermarkets, as well as places of education including schools, universities, and nurseries, will remain open.
The ruling will see pubs and restaurants once again shut, only allowing takeaway services from those that are able to do so safely and within the guidelines. The furlough scheme will also be extended throughout November.
MPs are set to vote on the new restrictions before they are introduced this week. Once the four-week period ends, the tier system is said to be reintroduced.
It also means gyms will shut for a month. The opening and closing of gyms has been a point of contention recently, in the wake of mounting protest and debate that has raged over the lack of support they’d received. There has reportedly been a lack of scientific evidence to justify shutting gyms in tier 3 areas, while staying open benefits people physically and mentally.
People will be able to exercise outdoors, and can travel to and from work if they cannot work from home. Restrictions on international travel are also expected to come into effect.
As per the restrictions in the first lockdown, people won’t be able to meet others from outside their households either in an indoor or outdoor setting throughout November, until the risk is reassessed ahead of the December 2 end date.
