Prime Minister tells residents to cancel their Christmas plans
All shops must close at midnight
Saturday, 19th December 2020 — By Richard Osley
The Prime Minister called a new press conference earlier today (Saturday) [Downing Street]
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has put London into ‘Tier 4’ coronavirus restrictions and asked families to cancel plans for Christmas.
With a new strain of the Covid-19 virus now circulating – the government says it spreads more easily – Mr Johnson said that plans to relax the rules for five days next week must be called off.
Just three days after insisting that family celebrations should go ahead during Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said all non-essential shops must close at midnight and people should not travel out of the capital.
He also said that there should be no socialising in other people’s houses, ending hopes of get-togethers on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and that people in Tier 4 areas must only meet one person outdoors.
“I know how disappointing this will be, but we have said throughout this pandemic that we must and we will be guided by the science,” Mr Johnson said.
“When the science changes, we must change our response. When the virus changes its methods of attack we must change our method of defence and as your Prime Minister I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me.”
Figures show that the number of Covid cases in Camden have increased by 103 per cent in the last week.
Camden Council leader Labour councillor Georgia Gould said tonight that the government must now step in with more resources to help people through.
She said: “To help London prevent the spread of the virus and rise to the challenge facing us we are urging government to act quickly to support London and deliver the following: 1. Increase support to people on low incomes who might have to self-isolate, 2, an emergency support package for all impacted sectors and, 3, funding for local authorities to put in place support for vulnerable residents unable to access essential food and medicine.”
Cllr Gould added: “Councils, the NHS, the Metropolitan Police and Government are working closely together to make sure people know the rules, follow the rules and get the right care if they do get Covid-19. Health, care and frontline staff are all working this weekend – administering Covid-19 tests, giving advice to businesses and communities, looking after those in hospital and in care homes.
“They will be working through Christmas and many of them will not be seeing friends and family to keep them safe. We can all honour their hard work by following public health advice and making the right choices now and in the next few weeks.”
