UK to Enter Lockdown by Mid-Next Month... "Urgent Control Needed for Variant Virus"

After Two Lockdowns Last Year, Third Lockdown... Movement Restrictions, School Closures
Variant Virus Spreads Worldwide... Vaccine Efficacy Tested in South Africa

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The UK, where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) variant virus is rampant, has finally imposed a third lockdown. The UK government plans to continue strong lockdown measures, including restrictions on residents' movement and school closures, until mid-next month to curb the spread of the variant virus and expedite vaccinations. As global attention focuses on whether vaccines can block the spreading variant virus, it has been reported that South Africa, one of the outbreak sites, plans to conduct vaccine efficacy tests.

According to local British media such as the BBC, on the 4th (local time), UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in a televised address to the nation that strong lockdown measures would be implemented across the UK until mid-February. Prime Minister Johnson emphasized, "The spread of the variant virus is desperate and worrisome, and control is absolutely necessary," adding, "The coming weeks will be the hardest, and the UK is in the final stage of its most difficult period." With this, the UK has entered its third lockdown following those in March and November last year.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Under the lockdown order, movement of residents across the UK is principally restricted starting today. Outdoor movement and activities are prohibited except for essential reasons such as purchasing groceries or medicines, and for occupations that cannot work from home. Schools will be fully closed, with classes replaced by online remote education. However, kindergartens will remain open. Restaurants will continue to suspend operations but takeout and delivery are allowed, while alcohol is prohibited for both takeout and delivery. Golf and tennis courses, outdoor gyms, and other facilities will also be closed, but professional sports such as the English Premier League (EPL) will be allowed without spectators.

The reason the UK government decided to resume such strong lockdown measures is that the spread of COVID-19 has reached record highs due to the rampant variant virus. On this day, the UK's daily confirmed cases reached a record high of 58,784. There were also 407 deaths in one day, bringing the cumulative death toll to 75,431. Accordingly, the UK's Joint Biosecurity Centre raised the COVID-19 alert level to the highest level 5, and the severe shortage of hospital beds became the background for implementing strong lockdown measures.

Meanwhile, the variant virus is spreading worldwide. According to Bloomberg News, it was reported that the UK-origin variant virus was detected for the first time in New York, USA, on this day. As global interest focuses on whether the vaccines currently being administered worldwide are effective against the variant virus, South African medical staff announced that they would collect blood from individuals with antibodies to the variant virus and from vaccinated individuals to conduct efficacy tests.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.