Gatherings of more than six people will be banned from next Monday in England. An additional measure to fight against the coronavirus epidemic, which is registering a surge in the United Kingdom, especially among young people, the British government announced on Tuesday (September 8).
Currently set at 30 people, this new limit will apply “To gatherings indoors and outdoors, in private accommodation, outdoor public spaces and places such as pubs and restaurants”, said the services of Prime Minister Boris Johnson before a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
“We must act now to prevent the virus from spreading, must declare the conservative leader, according to the press release. We are simplifying and strengthening the rules on social contacts to make them easier for the police to understand and apply ”. “It is absolutely essential that people abide by these rules”, adds the press release.
A fine of 100 pounds for violators
The exceptions concern
- households with more than six people,
- schools,
- The places of work,
- the marriages,
- funerals,
- team sports organized in accordance with health guidelines.
Violators face a fine of 100 pounds sterling (around 100 euros), which will be doubled for each repeat offense to a maximum of 3,200 pounds.
In the United Kingdom, the most bereaved country in Europe with more than 41,500 dead, each of the four constituent nations decides on its own health measures, the government of London being competent only for England. Local re-containments have already been put in place to contain outbreaks of the Covid-19 disease, in order to avoid a new containment at the national level, devastating for the economy.
In Bolton, restrictions were tightened Tuesday due to a sharp rise in contamination, especially among people in their twenties and thirties. With 120 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, this city in the north-west of England has “The highest incidence rate in the country”Health Minister Matt Hancock said in the House of Commons.
Sharp increase in new cases
Only take-away sales are now allowed in restaurants and pubs in this city of about 280,000 inhabitants, and all establishments must close between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Visits are reduced to retirement homes and meetings between people from different homes are prohibited.
While the number of deaths from the virus is the lowest since March, the number of new positive cases is on the rise, as in other countries in Europe. It reached 2,460 on Tuesday – one of the highest levels recorded since May – bringing the total to 352,560.
The British government will also launch a media information campaign on Wednesday to raise public awareness, as winter approaches, about the importance of washing hands, wearing a mask and respecting social distancing. For its part, Wales put in place its first local lockdown on Tuesday, banning entry and exit, without a valid excuse, from the County of Caerphilly at least until October.
