COVID-19: UK Labour Leader Starmer Calls For 2-3 Weeks Lockdown Or Circuit Breaker
Sir Keir said his proposals were “in line with Sage’s recommendation” for a circuit breaker to lower the reproduction number, or R value, of the virus – but acknowledged they would require significant sacrifices.
He said:
- Only essential work and travel would be allowed and everyone who can work from home should do so
- Non-essential offices should be closed
- Household mixing should be restricted to one household except for those who have formed support bubbles
- UK Parliament should “move to remote working”
Meanwhile, Wales’ first minister has said he had asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson for a special Cobra meeting “specifically to discuss the circuit-breaker idea” earlier in the week – and repeated that call in a letter on Wednesday.
“I think it’s an idea that will need further examination and needs to be shared in perspective between the four UK nations,” Mark Drakeford added.
The Scottish government is to implement its own three-tier framework of restrictions later in October. In the meantime, pubs and restaurants in Scotland’s central belt, including Edinburgh and Glasgow, were closed on Friday until 25 October as part of a package of short-term measures.
‘Hugely concerning’
The daily figure of 143 deaths follows 50 deaths announced on Monday and was the highest daily total since the 164 deaths recorded on 10 June.
The latest government figures also show another 17,234 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK, compared with 13,792 cases the day before.
