Coronavirus cases are on the rise in the UK, and reports suggest the Government will announce stricter lockdown measures next week. Several reports have indicated Prime Minister Boris Johnson is considering a three-tier system, which would see areas with the highest COVID cases placed under stricter lockdown measures. In recent weeks the number of coronavirus cases in London has sharply increased.
Is London going into lockdown?
London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted on Friday evening to caution the capital is currently at a “tipping point” in the course of the pandemic.
He wrote: “London is at a very serious tipping point in the spread of this virus – and we need to start preparing for additional restrictions.
“How we act this weekend will determine where we are in the weeks to come.
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“Please act with caution and follow the rules – lives depend on it.”
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its latest coronavirus infection survey report on Friday, October 9.
The highest rates of infection in the UK were recently recorded in the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Between September 25 and October 1, 2020, an estimated 0.3 percent of the population tested positive for coronavirus in London.
According to Greater London Authority data, 6,330 cases of coronavirus were identified in London between September 27 and October 3, 2020.
This is a sharp increase from the week previously when London confirmed 3,823 cases.
For context, 65,243 cases were identified in England as a whole between September 27 and October 3, 2020, in lab-confirmed tests.
In the week prior there were 37,854 confirmed cases of coronavirus in England.
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What is the three-tier lockdown system?
The Government has not yet confirmed new lockdown restrictions, but reports indicate the PM will make an announcement next week.
The reported three-tier lockdown system would see areas placed under the highest tier if cases of coronavirus are too high.
Additional lockdown restrictions could be put in place, such as closures for hospitality businesses.
It is not yet clear how a new lockdown system would work, and the PM’s spokesperson said this week the Government is considering a “range of options” to tackle the rising number of cases.
The PM’s spokesman told a Westminster briefing on Thursday: “We are seeing coronavirus cases rise across the entire country but they are rising faster in the North East and the North West.
“We are keeping the data under close review and we are considering a range of options to reduce the spread of the virus in order to protect communities and to protect the NHS.”
