The Conversation (0)
Joanna Taylor
Jan 05, 2021
England has been placed under national lockdown measures once again.
It’s the third time such measures have been introduced and the second time schools have been closed in less than 12 months.
In a televised broadcast announcing the lockdown, Boris Johnson said:
“It’s been frustrating and alarming to see the speed with which the new variant is spreading. [...]. As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic.”
He then announced that people may only leave their homes for essential reasons like buying food, exercising or working if it cannot be done from home and advised clinically vulnerable people to begin shielding again.
As in the first national lockdown, Johnson also announced that schools will close until February half term at the earliest and that exams will not take place in summer as normal. University students have also been advised not to return to their campuses.
Similar measures have also been put into place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where schools have been shut.
Naturally, the news was met with disappointment.
feels like we're expected to have adapted and gotten used to all of this, when actually the longer it goes on the m… https://t.co/7BixBfG05L— lex croucher ⚔️ isn’t here (@lex croucher ⚔️ isn’t here) 1609774414
It it ok to both realize a lockdown is needed to suppress COVID and protect health services, as well as despair at… https://t.co/s83vPgUIYg— Prof. Devi Sridhar 🌈 (@Prof. Devi Sridhar 🌈) 1609789607
It’s absolutely OKAY to be sad, anxious and in despair about this lockdown at the same time as knowing it is what i… https://t.co/YitogPvb52— Chloe Bellerby (@Chloe Bellerby) 1609795584
And frustration with the government.
The most helpful COVID19 measure that Boris Johnson could announce at 8pm would be his resignation— Liam Young (@Liam Young) 1609772393
UK's COVID-19 strategy is just a series of U-turns. That's it, that's the tweet.— Cherry Agarwal (@Cherry Agarwal) 1609793153
Too generous. Make him walk. https://t.co/I97tcAs6ku— Wes Streeting MP (@Wes Streeting MP) 1609834934
It’s more than nine months since the first lockdown. When were they planning to deliver the remaining laptops? https://t.co/A5lZD1rL8B— Henry Mance (@Henry Mance) 1609833724
But the vaccine rollout offered some optimism.
We’re in another national lockdown. Schools will all close. The situation is really serious with how quickly this n… https://t.co/0UL856vwSw— Rashid (@Rashid) 1609791609
Labour politicians demanded to know what financial measures would be put in place to keep people going.
These new restrictions are needed. But many people will be going to bed tonight deeply worried about the impact on… https://t.co/hjHxwMscmT— Anneliese Dodds 💙 (@Anneliese Dodds 💙) 1609794850
And people questioned the point of opening schools for a single day before lockdown measures were introduced.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has admitted on live TV that schools help spread the virus. And yet today,… https://t.co/9IfsQ2JKfF— Daisy Cooper MP 🔶 (@Daisy Cooper MP 🔶) 1609791048
So NOW schools are seen as vectors of transmission?!!!?? IF I SCREAM.— Richie Brave (@Richie Brave) 1609790698
But some people are just ready to get back into Tiger King and Joe Wicks…
Somewhere, Joe Wicks opened a golden chest containing his lycra, and started doing star jumps.— Danny Wallace (@Danny Wallace) 1609791312
Welcome back to national lockdown, on your left you’ll find Tiger King and on the right you’ll find banana bread...… https://t.co/63G6N2qPE5— Faye Ellaby (@Faye Ellaby) 1609791195
Good morning and welcome to Lockdown Day 8735. The toilet paper wars start at 10, children will invade your zoom ca… https://t.co/8uEn2t1qHm— innocent drinks (@innocent drinks) 1609834237
Further announcements, including clarity on financial measures to help people through the lockdown, are expected.
And while it’s unclear when lockdown measures will be lifted exactly, current estimates suggest it will be March at the earliest.
Time to dust off that banana bread recipe.
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