The UK government will impose maximum restrictions in London and several regions in the southeast of England due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus. This was stated by the Prime Minister of the country Boris Johnson on Saturday, December 19, reports The Independent .
According to the British Prime Minister, some areas will have the fourth highest level of restrictions. “These measures will be essentially similar to a national lockdown,” Johnson explained. He noted that the authorities had to make such a decision due to the fact that after the detection of a new variant of the coronavirus, the incidence rate began to rise sharply again in the country.
The new restrictions will take effect on Sunday morning, December 20. In the affected areas, shops that do not sell essential items, hairdressers and gyms will again be closed. At the same time, local residents are advised not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary. They will also be prohibited from meeting friends and neighbors on Christmas Day.
Earlier in December, UK Health Minister Matthew Hancock reported that discovered a new strain of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which spreads faster than the original form. The virus is more easily transmitted from person to person and therefore more contagious, he said. Later, the chief physician of Great Britain Chris Whitty confirmed that the new type of coronavirus has a high spread .