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18 September 2020

Local partial lockdown restrictions still extend in the UK, against the backdrop of alarm over the upward trend in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.

Boris Johnson's government today announced a tightening from Tuesday 22 also in additional territories of northern, central and western England such as Lancashire (excluding the city of Blackpool), Merseyside (i.e. the area around Liverpool), a further part Midlands (including Wolverhampton) and part of West Yorkshire.

In total, adding these areas to those included in the crackdown in force today in Newcastle, Sunderland and the surrounding area, as well as a few weeks in Leicester, Birmingham, Bolton and in some areas of Scotland and Wales, the people affected by the new tightening in Country rise to about 12 million.

The restrictions envisaged under these localized measures - stricter than those currently in force at national level - include the reintroduction of the prohibition of any private social contact, outdoors or outside, outside the cohabiting household. , a stricter limitation of the hours of restaurants, pubs and cafes, the indication not to use public transport except for "essential needs" such as going to work or school.

The indication to avoid amateur sporting events as spectators also returns, as well as the recommendation to travel outside the areas of residence, if necessary, only with one's family and without being able to visit relatives living elsewhere for private reasons.

However, other limitations that had been imposed on the entire Kingdom for three months in spring at the time of the general lockdown (albeit with greater flexibility than in other countries) during the deadliest phase of a pandemic that caused the island officially total about 42,000 deaths.

Health Minister: "Very serious situation"


Another national lockdown in England is the "last line of defense" to be adopted if necessary.

Health Minister Matt Hancock said this, warning that the United Kingdom is in a "very serious situation".

Speaking on a BBC program, the minister noted that there has been an "acceleration" in cases in recent weeks.

"It is essential that people follow the rules", so "we can avoid having to take other serious measures".

At the same time, he stressed, national lockdowns can "keep people safe".



"Action needs to be taken," said Hancock.

"It is absolutely essential that people follow the rules," he said, recalling the importance of the new "rule of six" in England, namely the ceiling on the number of people who can get together, the use of the mask and the spacing.