Boris Johnson Says U.K. Plans 'Massive Expansion' of Rapid Covid-19 Tests

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended plans in parliament on Monday to introduce a new national lockdown in England to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the new restrictions, bars and restaurants can only offer take-out, non-essential shops must close and people will only be able to leave home for a short list of reasons including exercise.

Hairdressers, gyms, golf courses, swimming pools and bowling alleys are among venues that must shut down, and foreign holidays are barred.

Unlike during the UK’s first three-month lockdown earlier this year, schools, universities, construction sites and manufacturing businesses will stay open.

The prime minister is facing opposition from some members of his own party who say the lockdown will cost jobs and infringe on human rights.

And the opposition Labour Party has criticised the delay in implementing a policy first recommended on September 21, although the party says it will back the restrictions when they come to a vote on Wednesday.

"Faced with these latest figures, there is no alternative but to take further action at a national level,″ Johnson told lawmakers.

"I know some in the House believe we should have reached this decision earlier, but I believe it was right to try every possible option to get this virus under control at a local level, with strong local action and strong local leadership," Johnson said.

The new policy comes three weeks after Johnson announced plans for a three-tiered regional approach to combatting the virus, with tighter restrictions imposed on areas with higher infection rates.

The government chose that strategy in an effort to reduce the economic and social impact of new restrictions, even though a committee of scientific advisers recommended a short lockdown as a “circuit breaker” to slow rising infection rates.

But that approach became untenable after new analysis showed COVID-19 was spreading so rapidly that the number of deaths this winter could more than double those recorded earlier this year.

The latest lockdown is expect to start on Thursday and will run until at least December 2.

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