Scotland goes into full lockdown, England to follow suit as COVID-19 cases spike

Scotland on Monday anunced a tougher stay-at-home lockdown for month of January to try and control rapid spre of a new variant of coronavirus, as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that re was “ question we’re going to have to take tougher measures” in England.

devolved ministrations of United Kingdom set ir individual levels of restrictions but most of country was alrey under tough Tier 4 lockdown measures, requiring all n-essential retail to shut down and also a ban on different households mixing.

However, Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reconvened Scottish Parliament on Monday to declare that from midnight, new laws will require everyone in Scotland to stay at home and work from home where possible.

Outdoor garings are also to be cut back, with people only allowed to meet one person from one or household.

“We can alrey see – by looking at infection rates in south of England – some of what could happen here in Scotland. To prevent that, we need to act immediately and firmly,” said Sturgeon.

"For government, that means introducing tough measures – as we have done today. And for all of us, it means sticking to rules," she said.

anuncement came as Johnson indicated that he will be setting out tougher lockdown rules for England as well, amid pressure from Opposition Labour Party to impose a complete nationwide lockdown.

“ question we’re going to have to take tougher measures,” said Johnson, during a hospital visit in rth London on Monday, day National Health Service (NHS) began ministering first set of Oxford University jabs.

"What we have been waiting for is to see impact of Tier 4 measures on virus and it is a bit unclear, still, at moment. But if you look at numbers, re is question that we are going to have to take tougher measures and we will be anuncing those in due course,” he said.

An ditional 454 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test result were reported across UK on Sunday, meaning total by this measure is w above 75,000. Hospitals across country are coming under increasing pressure as cases mount.

" spre of new variant of COVID-19 has led to rapidly escalating case numbers across country. Prime Minister is clear that furr steps must w be taken to arrest this rise and to protect NHS and save lives,” a Downing Street spokesperson said, confirming that UK Prime Minister would dress nation later on Monday evening to set out changes.

Meanwhile, Wales remains in a nationwide lockdown since December 20, while rrn Ireland is in second week of a six-week lockdown that began on December 26.

Johnson wanted to avoid blanket school closures for England but that seems less likely even as all of London’s schools were asked t to resume from Monday in usual course.

“This new variant is much easier to catch, it is much more transmissible, and we’re w seeing effect of that in lots of different parts of country, unfortunately,” said UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

“And it means that, whereas old Tier 3 was able to contain old variant, that is proving increasingly difficult in all parts of country,” he said.

re is also growing concern in UK about a second South African variant of coronavirus, which is said to be even more highly transmissible, causing fears that it may even be resilient to COVID-19 vaccines w being rolled out.