British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering the introduction of new national restrictions as his country is struggling to get a handle on the spread of coronavirus, local media reported Friday.
The plans being drawn up will be stop short of a full national lockdown as seen in the spring when Britons were told to “stay at home”, Sky News reported.
The proposals could see essential travel to schools and workplaces continuing, but restaurants and bars would shut or perhaps run on restricted hours, and different households would be asked not to mix, according to the report.
The restrictions could be put in place for two weeks, but the timing and duration of the measures have yet to be finalized, it said.
England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and the British government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance have warned that Britain is in danger of seeing a substantial increase in the number of cases by mid-October if the virus is left unchecked.
Also on Friday, the government announced that more restrictions will be put in place from Tuesday for more areas, including north west, West Yorkshire and midlands to tackle rising infection rates.
Residents must not socialize with other people outside of their own households or support bubble in private homes and gardens. In some areas, leisure and entertainment venues including restaurants, pubs and cinemas, are required to close between 10:00 p.m. BST (2100 GMT) to 5:00 a.m. BST (0400 GMT), according to a statement by the government.
These changes are in addition to the “rule of six” which was introduced nationwide on Monday, limiting the number of people who can gather indoors or outdoors to six.
The latest move came at a time when countries such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccine.
