Coronavirus crisis: UK may impose national lockdown

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering imposing new national lockdown measures next week, amid concerns that hospitals across the country are overwhelmed by a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, The Times newspaper reports.

The new restrictions could be introduced on Wednesday and remain in place until December 1, the Times said on Friday.

Johnson is expected to hold a news conference on Monday to announce the new measures, under which everything could be closed except essential shops and “educational settings”, the newspaper said.

However, the new measures were still under discussion and no final decision had been made, the Times said, citing a senior government source.

Cabinet Office officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

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The United Kingdom on Friday reported 24,405 new cases of COVID-19 and a further 274 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to government data. It has now recorded more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases a day on average in the past week.

COVID-19 infections are rising so persistently in the United Kingdom that unless something can be done to reduce infections, the “reasonable worst case” scenario of 80,000 dead could be exceeded, scientists warned on Friday.

The “R” number was 1.1-1.3, down from 1.2-1.4, the UK’s Government Office for Science said. That means on average every 10 people infected will infect between 11 and 13 other people.

Though the dip in reproduction “R” number showed that local measures were having an effect, government scientists caution that numbers of infections will not fall unless it is brought below 1.

Currently, the government has a three-tier system of restrictions for local areas in England, with level three the highest. Scotland, Wales and North Ireland run their own policies on fighting the pandemic.

In the third tier of restrictions, household mixing is banned, pubs and bars are ordered to remain closed, wedding receptions are not permitted, and travel to or from the area should be avoided.

The Times report said the government was also considering tougher regional measures, known as Tier 4, but ministers were said to be in favour of a nationwide policy.