Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom announced new lockdown measures designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Johnson, in a press conference at No. 10 Downing Street on Saturday, said that nonessential shops will be forced to close for about four weeks. Pubs, restaurants, and nonessential businesses (including hair salons and gyms) will have to close, but schools, universities, and playgrounds will stay open.
The lockdown will go into effect next week and last until Dec. 2.
“We must act now to contain the autumn surge,” Johnson, who was diagnosed with the virus months ago, said during the press conference.
The announcement from Johnson came as the U.K. recently surpassed 1 million COVID-19 diagnoses. The U.K. has confirmed more deaths due to COVID-19 than any other European country, with more than 46,000.
Britain is not the only European country grappling with a second wave of the virus.
France and Germany have also imposed restrictions this week nearly as strict as those enacted in the spring. French President Emmanuel Macron announced another nationwide shutdown to begin Thursday and will be in effect through Dec. 1, at least, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reinstated pandemic restrictions similar to those in France. Bars and restaurants will close, while essential businesses and schools will remain open.
