While many Americans waited for final ballots to be counted, last-minute shoppers in England were out in force yesterday. Today, Great Britain is joining large swathes of Europe in fresh coronavirus lockdowns. Experts hope the measures will save the country’s healthcare system from being overwhelmed.
All non-essential venues—pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, swimming pools, entertainment venues, and stores selling items like books, clothing, and sneakers—must close today until at least December 2. This time schools and universities in England are remaining open, as are construction sites and factories.
The ruling came after a sudden change of course last weekend by Britain’s government. For weeks, officials had been advocating targeted regional responses to the pandemic instead of another national lockdown. But the case numbers kept rising.
These latest lockdown measures took effect at midnight. Many in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party oppose the new lockdown. They say the response will ruin the economy. But the opposition Labour Party says the restrictions should have been imposed weeks ago.
“I don’t think any government would want to impose these measures lightly, or any parliament would want to impose these measures lightly on the people of this country,” Johnson says.
England’s lockdown follows similar restrictions elsewhere in the United Kingdom, which has Europe’s highest virus-related death toll at 47,250. It also follows fresh restrictions in Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, and other nations due to rising COVID-19 infections.
Italy, which suffered badly during the first wave of the pandemic, is also facing new curbs on freedom of movement beginning today. Those measures include a nationwide overnight curfew and high schools placed on full-time distance learning.
The country is expected to be carved up into three zones of infection. Travel restrictions will prohibit anyone from entering or leaving a hard-hit region. All restaurants and shops will close, except for supermarkets and pharmacies.
Not all countries are going down the lockdown route. Russia has shunned a second lockdown, insisting that its healthcare system is able to cope with the recent surge. Still, Russia on Wednesday reported 19,768 new infections and 389 new deaths—both records.
In the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte says there are some signs that closing bars and restaurants was working. But he believes further curbs are needed. Beginning last night, Dutch cinemas, theaters, museums, and pools will be closed.
“It’s not going too bad but certainly not good enough,” Rutte told the country. “The infection numbers have to go down quicker.”
Belgium is one of the most virus-affected nations in Europe. But reports show new coronavirus infections and hospital admissions have started to stabilize.
“The high-speed train is slowing down,” says virologist Steven Van Gucht of a Belgian government health group. But he adds, “Let there be no doubt that the tough rules need to be maintained.”
How would you respond to new coronavirus lockdowns in your area?
(Shoppers leave a store in Northumberland Street in Newcastle, England, ahead of a national lockdown for England that begins today. Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
