England, Scotland Announce Full Lockdown amid Rising COVID Cases

Nearly 56 million people in England will return to a full coronavirus lockdown, possibly until mid-February, to try to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.

The measures, which include the closure of primary and secondary schools, will come into effect Wednesday, after Scotland announced similar measures would come into force from midnight on Tuesday.

The new measures include the closure of schools, working from home wherever possible, limits on leaving home, except for exercise, essential shopping and for medical supplies, and no household mixing.

PM Boris Johnson warned the coming weeks would be the "hardest yet," reports the BBC.

The move comes after the UK reported a record 58,784 cases on Monday and a further 407 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

The British PM added that all care home residents and their carers, everyone aged 70 and over, all frontline health and social care workers, and the clinically extremely vulnerable will be offered one dose of a vaccine by mid-February.

"Earlier on Monday, [Scotland's] First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a stay-at-home order for Scotland, beginning at midnight and lasting until the end of January. Scotland's lockdown, which is for the mainland and Skye, will also see schools closed to pupils, places of worship closed, and group exercise banned.

"Wales, which has been in a national lockdown since 20 December, said schools and colleges would shut until 18 January for most pupils.

"Meanwhile, Northern Ireland, which entered a six-week lockdown on 26 December, plans to put its stay-at-home message into law and will have an "extended period of remote learning," reads the BBC article. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

Source: The BBC