LONDON (UK) – As the nation struggles to stem the spread of the second wave of infections, the month-long lockdown announced by the government during the weekend could be extended, according to a cabinet member.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson desisted from exploring the possibility of a national lockdown for most of last month. But on Saturday, he announced fresh curbs across England and it would come into effect after midnight on Thursday morning and would last until December 2.
The country has the biggest official fatality tall in Europe and it it struggling to contain more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases a day. According to scientists, the worst-case scenario of 80,000 fatalities could be exceeded this winter.
Senior cabinet minister Michael Gove said that the lockdown could be extended beyond early December.
There are 46,717 COVID-19 mortalities and they are defined as those succumbing to it within 28 days of testing positive.
“We can definitively say that unless we take action now, the (health service) is going to be overwhelmed in ways that none of us could countenance,” Gove said.
The Times said that several cabinet ministers have hinted at the government extending the lockdown in England to next year with a brief period of relaxation during the Christmas period.
According to the newspaper report, the ministers are of the opinion that it would be very difficult to end the lockdown if the COVID fatalities and hospitalisations keep on rising.
Meanwhile, Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said Johnson’s government missed a golden opportunity to lock down England in a more effective manner during the week-long school break at the end of last month.