[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The UK has decided to impose lockdown measures, including limiting the operating hours of pubs and restaurants to 10 p.m., due to the second wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
According to the British daily The Guardian on the 22nd (local time), UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson chaired a cabinet meeting and the emergency security meeting known as the COBRA meeting to discuss COVID-19 response measures and decided to announce additional COVID-19 measures in a public address.
Accordingly, the UK government plans to impose a measure starting from the 24th to limit the operating hours of pubs and restaurants to 10 p.m. Additionally, socializing with others in pubs is prohibited, and patrons must remain seated.
Furthermore, working from home will be recommended whenever possible.
The same measures, to be implemented across the UK, are based on the gloomy outlook released by the government the previous day.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, and Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, expressed at a press conference that "COVID-19 infections in the UK are doubling every week," and warned, "If this situation continues, there will be 50,000 confirmed cases per day by mid-October."
This is expected to lead to 200 deaths per day by mid-November, a month later.
Accordingly, the chief medical officers of the four regions?England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?raised the UK’s COVID-19 alert level from level 3 to level 4 the previous day.
Level 4 indicates an exponential increase in COVID-19 infections.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said regarding the public address, "Based on scientific advice, it will cover additional measures to respond to the virus and the roles everyone must play," adding, "We must continue to observe social distancing, wear masks, and practice handwashing as part of daily life."
Separately from the central government, London, the capital, is reportedly preparing additional COVID-19 response measures.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan plans to introduce 15 new measures to curb the spread of the virus based on meetings with the local council chairpersons and health experts.
These include expanding mask-wearing in public places, restricting attendance at weddings and funerals, and expanding work-from-home policies.
Mayor Khan emphasized, "Responding quickly is better than imposing stricter measures later," and added, "Only by taking decisive action now can we save lives and protect jobs and the economy."
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