Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights
- The U.K.’s latest lockdown could be extended if it fails to curb a spike in COVID-19 infections, a senior minister has confirmed
- Michael Gove told Sky News on Sunday the newest restrictions could last beyond December 2 if the U.K.’s ‘R’ rate — the number of people a positive COVID-19 case is likely to infect — remained above one
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the British people about the U.K.’s second lockdown a day earlier on Saturday
- Yesterday, the region recorded more than 23,000 cases and 162 deaths, bringing its death toll to 46,717
- Meanwhile, other European countries, such as France, Belgium, Germany and Portugal have all announced similar restrictions
- The U.K.’s 27-day lockdown will come into effect from Thursday, November 5
The U.K.’s latest lockdown could be extended if it fails to curb a spike in COVID-19 infections, a senior minister has confirmed.
Michael Gove told Sky News viewers on Sunday the newest restrictions could last beyond December 2 if the U.K.’s ‘R’ rate — the number of people a positive COVID-19 case is likely to infect — remained above one.
“We’ve got this four-week period, during which we’re going to review progress, but of course we’ll always be driven by the data,” the Minister stated.
“We will always take a decision in the national interest, based on evidence,” he added.
His comments come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the British people they’d have to head back into lockdown a day earlier on Saturday, explaining the latest restrictions would last for four weeks.
Under this latest shutdown, all non-essential businesses will close their doors and travel will be pushed back until early December.
Ahead of its second national lockdown, on November 1, the U.K. recorded more than 23,000 cases and 162 deaths, bringing the Kingdom’s death toll to 46,717.
The U.K.’s neighbours are struggling with similar restrictions. France, Germany and Belgium have also headed back into lockdown after second waves of COVID-19 hit their shores.
Just hours after the U.K. announced it was bringing back restrictions, Portugal announced its own partial lockdown, set to begin from November 4.
The U.K.’s new 27-day lockdown will come into effect from Thursday, November 5.
