China News Service, September 25, reported that the United Kingdom added 6,634 new confirmed cases of new crowns on the 24th, the highest number of new cases in a single day since the outbreak.
A number of British colleges and universities broke out cluster infections after the start of school in the fall. The British government has now tightened epidemic prevention measures and launched a new employment security plan accordingly.
Outbreaks in many universities
Students may be restricted from returning home on Christmas
Since the start of the autumn semester of British universities in September, there have been cases of collective infection among students in many universities.
The University of Glasgow, Scotland, where the situation is most severe, has at least 124 people infected as of the 24th, and more than 600 students are self-isolating.
The University of Liverpool has reported 87 confirmed cases this week, including 80 students and 7 school staff.
After the University of Dundee found a confirmed case, it asked 500 students to self-isolate.
More than ten universities, including the University of Warwick and the University of Bath, also experienced the epidemic.
Data map: Passengers on the London Underground wear masks in compliance with government mandatory regulations.
China News Agency issued Gao Tianyin photo
The Union of Universities and Colleges in the United Kingdom (UCU) pointed out that the successive outbreaks of epidemics in various universities proved that opening campuses at this stage is not feasible.
The British Government’s Emergency Science Advisory Group stated that sending students back home now poses the risk of spreading the virus, and therefore advises them not to go home during the Christmas holidays this year, but to stay at school instead.
British Health Minister Hancock also stated on the 24th that the authorities would not rule out restricting college students from leaving campus during the Christmas period to go home for the holidays, in order to reduce the possibility of the spread of the virus.
British government announces new "work support plan"
Ensure that employees can receive about 75% of their salary
The United Kingdom announced a foot ban on March 23 this year.
At that time, in order to make up for the loss to the livelihood of employees, the government announced that it would bear up to 80% of the salary of the affected employees, with an upper limit of £2500 per month, but this "job retention plan" will expire on October 31.
The picture shows that on the eve of the mandatory implementation of the "bars close at 10 pm" new epidemic prevention regulations, a bar in London was full of customers.
China News Agency issued Gao Tianyin photo
However, as the epidemic in the UK heats up, Johnson announced on the 22nd that in order to control the second wave of the epidemic, starting from the 24th, restaurants and bars in England must close at 10 pm, and called on people to work from home as much as possible.
These new epidemic prevention measures may need to be implemented for 6 months.
In order to avoid unemployment, the British government announced the "Work Support Plan" on the 24th, allowing affected employees to guarantee about 75% of their salary for up to 6 months.
The British Chancellor of the Exchequer Sunak said the work support plan is part of a larger "winter economic plan." According to official data, about 3 million employees are currently on paid leave, accounting for about 12% of the total workforce in the UK. The job support plan will be seamlessly integrated with the job retention plan and will be implemented from November 1.