Boris Johnson Announces New Month-Long Lockdown for England

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced England will enter a month-long lockdown from Thursday after being warned tough action was needed to stop a resurgent coronavirus outbreak. The announcement came on the day the U.K. passed one million confirmed COVID-19 cases, with government scientific advisors predicting if no action is taken hospitals may be overrun. Johnson confirmed that stringent restrictions on business and daily life would begin Thursday (November 5) and last until December 2. “Unless we act, we could see deaths in this country running at several thousand a day,” said Johnson, who was hospitalized earlier this year for a serious case of COVID-19. Under the new restrictions, pubs, bars and restaurants would be closed for all business except takeaway service. Retail shops will have to close, except for essential shops such as food and medicine. Unlike during the U.K.’s first three-month lockdown earlier this year, schools, universities, construction sites and manufacturing businesses will stay open. The U.K. reported more than 21,900 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the country’s total to more than one million. Britain has reported 46,665 deaths, the fifth-highest death toll in the world. QUICKTAKE ON SOCIAL: Follow QuickTake on Twitter: twitter.com/quicktake Like QuickTake on Facebook: facebook.com/quicktake Follow QuickTake on Instagram: instagram.com/quicktake Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJ0oQZ Email us at [email protected] QuickTake by Bloomberg is a global news network delivering up-to-the-minute analysis on the biggest news, trends and ideas for a new generation of leaders.