Lockdown 4: Could Boris keep some areas locked down in Monday announcement?
Lockdown 4 #Lockdown4
Boris Johnson says we need to be ‘cautious’ lifting lockdown
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The Prime Minister is expected to address the nation via television on Monday evening in an effort to explain the plan to get the country out of the pandemic. Despite the huge amounts of speculation, the Government has worked very hard to keep details largely under wraps about what this roadmap could entail. A number of easements have already been agreed on, including a full reopening of schools and a limited resumption of care home visits indoors.
As it stands, it is unclear exactly what the Prime Minister has planned for his roadmap out of lockdown.
But it does not seem likely he will keep some areas locked down while others reopen.
Instead, the Government will most likely choose to adopt an inclusive and national approach to easing restrictions considering the lockdown has applied to every area of the country.
The regional tiered system which was in place is unlikely to make a comeback, it is understood.
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Following the last lockdown, England returned to a tiered arrangement that restricted activities in certain areas based on infection rates and other factors, such as pressure on the NHS.
The system was widely criticised for not doing enough to sufficiently bring down the infectivity rates in the UK.
England was plunged into a national lockdown just weeks later as Covid cases surged.
Another downside to the tiered approach is the confusion it causes for people who cannot determine what applies to who and where.
Mr Johnson told reporters in West Yorkshire: “It may be that a national approach, going down the tiers in a national way, might be better this time round, given that the disease is behaving much more nationally.
“If you look at the way the new variant has taken off across the country, it’s a pretty national phenomenon.
“The charts I see, we’re all sort of moving pretty much in the same sort of way.
“There are a few discrepancies, a few differences, so it may be that we will go for a national approach, but there may be an advantage still in some regional differentiation as well.”
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The Prime Minister said he would be “keeping an open mind” on matters, so it’s unclear exactly where we stand.
Ministers had previously said they expected a swift return to the regional system of tiers.
As early as January 27, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said “it’s sensible that we target restrictions on those places where the virus is most prevalent”.
As ever with this Government, a lack of clarity and communication between ministers seems to be the prevalent theme.
In good news, though, the vaccine rollout is going well in the UK with the Government having reached its target of vaccinating 15 million people by February 15.
Mr Johnson revealed “virtually all” of England’s care home residents have been vaccinated now.
That comes as good news to the elderly residents, who will soon be able to have regular contact with one person outside of their home.
The full plan for easing lockdown restrictions is expected to be released on Monday, February 22.