Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted the UK’s second national lockdown will end on December 2 and the nation will move back into a tiered system.
Speaking at a televised Downing Street news conference alongside NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens this evening (November 5), the Prime Minister said the four-week lockdown is “enough” to make a “real impact” on the reduction of coronavirus infection rates.
“These measures, though they are tough, are time-limited,” Mr Johnson said of the new nationwide restrictions.
“The advice I’ve received suggests that four weeks is enough for these measures to make a real impact.
“So these rules will expire and on 2 December we plan to move back to a tiered system. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The PM’s comments come on the first day of England’s second national lockdown which has forced pubs, bars, restaurants and non-essential shops to close until December 2.
People have also been told to stay at home unless they are attending school, college, university or going grocery shopping and if they cannot work from home.
Boris Johnson also said the UK government and the devolved administrations are “working together on a joint approach to the Christmas period, because all of us want to ensure families can come together, wherever they live”.
Boris Johnson’s news conference comes hours after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the furlough scheme has been extended to March 2021.