Johnson tightens up as Covid second wave hits UK

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people on Tuesday to work from home if possible, and ordered bars and restaurants to close early to tackle a fast-spreading second wave of Covid-19 with new restrictions lasting probably six months.

However, schools and universities are to stay open.

After scientific warnings that deaths could soar without urgent action, Johnson stopped short of another full lockdown as he did in March but warned of further measures if the disease were not suppressed.

“We reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions,” he told parliament following emergency meetings with ministers and leaders of the UK’s devolved governments.

Just weeks after urging people to start returning to workplaces, Johnson advised office workers to stay at home if they could. He ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites to close at 10pm from Thursday with only table service allowed.

It is unclear if the measures will be enough to tackle Britain’s second wave, which government scientists warned could reach 50,000 new cases per day by mid-October, but they mean more pain for the world’s fifthlargest economy.

Masks will be required in more settings, there will be tougher enforcement of rules, and the military could be brought in to help free up the police, Johnson said.

Businesses breaking Covid19 laws face penalties of up to £10,000 or even closure, while individuals may be fined £200 for not wearing a mask when required.

Asked in parliament why Britain ’ s figures were worse than Germany and Italy’s, Johnson said: “There is an important difference between our country and many other countries around the world and that is our country is a freedom-loving country ... It is very difficult to ask the British population uniformly to obey guidelines in the way that is necessary.”

The UK already has the biggest official Covid-19 death toll in Europe: 41,788.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warned that the “very unfortunate” escalation of Covid-19 cases threatened the economic outlook and said the central bank was looking hard at how it could support the economy further.