UK nixes Christmas gatherings, shuts London shops over virus | World
A sign reading open for deliveries, outside a restaurant, ahead of the county moving into Tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions from Saturday, in Windsor, England, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020.
People wait to board trains with destinations including the Midlands, north of England and Scotland at Euston railway station in London, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. The British government plans to relax restrictions on socializing and travel for five days before and after Christmas. With infections rising in the U.K., which has Europe’s second-highest coronavirus death toll after Italy, there are concerns about a possible fresh surge of cases and deaths after the holidays.
A digital sign shows that London is under coronavirus Tier 3 restrictions, the toughest level in England’s three-tier system, at Euston railway station in London, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. The British government plans to relax restrictions on socializing and travel for five days before and after Christmas. With infections rising in the U.K., which has Europe’s second-highest coronavirus death toll after Italy, there are concerns about a possible fresh surge of cases and deaths after the holidays.
Demonstrators during a coronavirus anti-lockdown protest in Parliament Square, central London, Saturday Dec. 19, 2020.
Police and demonstrators during a coronavirus anti-lockdown protest in Parliament Square, central London, Saturday Dec. 19, 2020.
File – In this Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017 file photo, Britain’s then Foreign Minister Boris Johnson walks past a Christmas Tree as he leaves after a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is holding emergency talks with his Cabinet to discuss strategies to curb the spread of COVID-19. The government has planned to ease restrictions on socializing from Dec.23 to Dec.27 to allow people to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. The temporary holiday rules allow a maximum of three households to meet in a “Christmas bubble.” Johnson has urged residents to keep their celebrations small and short, but the planned relaxation of rules has raised increasing concerns given that infections are already climbing sharply in many places. The government’s scientific advisors said Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 that a new variant of the coronavirus was accelerating the spread of infections.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference in response to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Johnson says Christmas gatherings can’t go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference, flanked by Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, right, and Patrick Vallance, UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser, in response to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Johnson says Christmas gatherings can’t go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference in response to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Johnson says Christmas gatherings can’t go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Shoppers wear face masks as they walk in Regent Street, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, in London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
A couple cross the road as they carry an umbrella and shopping bags, in Mayfair, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, in London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
A couple hold hands as they walk in Covent Garden, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, in London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Shoppers wear face masks as they walk in Carnaby Street, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, in London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
A taxi driver holds a Union flag themed umbrella as he walks towards his Union flag themed taxi in Mayfair, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, in London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference in response to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Johnson says Christmas gatherings can’t go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
A woman wears a face mask as she stands outside a shop in Soho, ahead of the new Tier-4 restriction measures, in London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Christmas gatherings cannot go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference in response to the ongoing situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, inside 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. Johnson says Christmas gatherings can’t go ahead and non-essential shops must close in London and much of southern England as he imposed a new, higher level of coronavirus restrictions to curb rapidly spreading infections.
LONDON (AP) — Millions of people must cancel their Christmas get-togethers and most shops have to close in London and much of southern England, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Saturday as he imposed a new, stricter level of coronavirus restrictions on the region to curb rapidly spreading infections.
Johnson said Saturday that the capital and large areas in southern England already placed under the highest level of the U.K. government’s three-tiered coronavirus alert system will move into a new Tier 4 that requires all non-essential shops, hairdressers and indoor leisure venues to close after the end of business hours Saturday.
With just days to go until Christmas, Johnson also announced that a planned easing of socializing rules that would have allowed up to three households to meet in “Christmas bubbles” from Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 will be canceled for Tier 4 areas and sharply curtailed in the rest of England.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot proceed with Christmas as planned,” Johnson said.
He said he concluded there was “no alternative open to me” and people must sacrifice this Christmas to have a better chance of protecting the lives of loved ones.
No mixing of households will be allowed in Tier 4 except under very limited conditions outside in public places. Travel in and out of Tier 4 areas won’t be allowed unless essential. In the rest of England, people will be allowed to meet in Christmas bubbles for just one day instead of five, as the government originally planned.
