Britain facing tighter restrictions
Concerns over recent spike in virus cases
LONDON — Fresh nationwide lockdown restrictions in England appear to be in the cards soon as the British government targeted more areas Friday in an attempt to suppress a sharp spike in new coronavirus infections.
With more restrictions on gatherings and other activities announced for large parts of England, there is growing speculation that the U.K. may be sliding toward a lockdown by stealth in the coming weeks, partly because the testing regime is struggling to cope with higher demand. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it’s “inevitable” a second coronavirus wave would reach the nation.
“As I’ve said for several weeks now, that we could expect (and) are now seeing a second wave coming in,” Johnson said during a visit to a vaccine manufacturing center under construction near Oxford. “We are seeing it in France, in Spain, across Europe.”
Johnson’s comments came amid mounting speculation that the government will announce fresh curbs on the hospitality sector, such as pubs and restaurants, potentially involving curfews — something already in place in areas facing extra lockdown restrictions.
According to the BBC, the British government’s chief scientific adviser and medical officer have warned of another serious coronavirus outbreak and many more deaths by the end of October if there were no further interventions soon. Possible measures being considered under this so-called “circuit break” are asking some hospitality businesses to close, or limiting opening hours, for a period — potentially two weeks. In other developments:
■ Canada is extending the agreement to keep the U.S. border closed to non-essential travel to Oct. 21 during the coronavirus pandemic.public Safety Minister Bill Blair said they’ll continue to base the decision on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe. The restrictions were announced on March 18 and were extended each month.
■ The World Health Organization’s emergencies chief said new global cases of the coronavirus appear to have plateaued at about 2 million and 50,000 deaths every week. Dr. Michael Ryan said while the global COVID-19 caseload was not rising exponentially, the weekly number of deaths was still very unsettling.
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei says he’s tested positive for the coronavirus. The 64-year-old Giammattei told a local radio station he feels well. He has multiple sclerosis and uses canes to walk. The announcement came on the same day the country reopened its borders and international flights.
■ Public health authorities in Italy are warning that the average age of coronavirus patients is creeping up as young people infect their more fragile parents and grandparents, risking new strain on the hospital system. The Superior Institute of Health issued its weekly monitoring report Friday as the country where COVID-19 hit first in the West recorded the highest number of new infections —1,907 — since May 1.