Advertisement

Updated March 30th, 2020 at 20:49 IST

UK could extend COVID-19 lockdown upto 6 months if needed, says govt officials

The government advisor to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared that the administration would extend the lockdown until late September to flatten the curve.

Reported by: Zaini Majeed
UK
| Image:self
Advertisement

The UK has reportedly announced that the lockdown to contain the novel Coronavirus spread within the kingdom could be extended up to six months, with an exception to some social distancing measures. The senior advisor to UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has declared that the administration might extend the lockdown until late September to flatten the curve and bounce back to normalcy. This, however, will be subject to timely review, as per the media reports.

UK's deputy chief medical officer, Jenny Harries, told the news briefing that the measures will be evaluated every three weeks for the upcoming six months to detect any slump in the rising cases. She added that containment measures might be needed beyond six months to prevent the relapse of the disease once the community spread was under control.

She was quoted as saying that there was a “lot of uncertainty” at this time. The UK has reported over 19,522 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, and at least 1,228 deaths so far, according to John Hopkin University data. 

Read: Coronavirus In Italy: Maxi Lopez Slams Wanda Icardi For Risking Their Kids' Lives

Read: Buckingham Palace Releases Statement After UK PM Boris Johnson Tests Positive For COVID-19

20,000 former NHS staff called

Earlier, UK's chief science advisor Patrick Vallance claimed that the figures of those infected in the UK might be significantly higher if more people were tested, as per media reports. At least four prominent ministers in the UK’s parliament, PM Boris Johnson, the health secretary Matt Hancock, the chief medical officer Chris Whitty, and Johnson's chief adviser, Dominic Cummings have all tested positive and are in quarantine. 

At least 20,000 former NHS staff was asked by PM Boris Johnson to return to the health services in view of the mounting health crisis across the country. It was predicted by the health professionals that the numbers are estimated to get worse over the next two weeks in the UK, as per media reports.

Robert Jenrick, housing and community's secretary, was quoted saying in the press conference that none of the government officials were “pretending” that the situation was going to be under control in the weeks ahead. In fact, more stringent measures were needed at the time to battle the largescale impact of the disease, he added.

Read: UK PM Boris Johnson Tests Positive For COVID-19, B-Town Celebs Wish Him Speedy Recovery

Read: UK Hospitals About To Be Flooded With 'tsunami' Of COVID-19 Patients: Indian-origin Doctor

Advertisement

Published March 30th, 2020 at 20:49 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Jailed Gangster Mukhtar Ansari Passes Away
a few seconds ago
Alaya F
a few seconds ago
BREAKING: Mukhtar Ansari Suffers Heart Attack, Admitted to Hospital in Serious Condition
4 minutes ago
Mukhtar Ansari Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in 1990 Arms Licence Case | Live
5 minutes ago
Man Detained With Liquor Bottle Outside Court When Arvind Kejriwal Produced In Excise Policy Case
8 minutes ago
Experience The Magic Of These Kashmiri Lakes
9 minutes ago
Penn Badgley
11 minutes ago
Nuts
13 minutes ago
Hill Stations
14 minutes ago
Ravichandran Ashwin and MS Dhoni
16 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo