London is just ‘two weeks behind’ other UK regions that are currently under local lockdown, Sadiq Khan has revealed.
The Mayor of London admitted today he is ‘really worried’ about rising infection rates in the capital, as the number of cases per 100,000 people over seven days increases from 18.8 to around 25.
Officials in London are currently studying which restrictions are successful across the more infected areas of the UK and haven’t ruled out a 10pm curfew for the city.
Mr Khan said: ‘What we’ve seen in other parts of the country and in the North East in particular is an instruction for bars and restaurants to close at 10pm.
‘The reason for that is to minimise the amount of hours people spend socialising which can increase the risk of the virus spreading.
‘We’re looking into all possibilities in London and we’re looking to see which policies across the country are successful.’
He added: ‘According to the latest evidence I’ve seen, we’re about two weeks behind some parts of the country.
‘That’s why I’m saying to Londoners please follow the advice.’
The politician announced earlier on Friday that traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations in London were cancelled, as it emerges the R Number across the country is as high as 1.4.
Mr Khan told LBC there would be ‘no fireworks’ and ‘nothing happening’ on December 31, as the capital ‘can’t afford’ to have large crowds of people come together.
He added that 2021 would instead be brought in by ‘something that people can enjoy in the comfort of their living rooms’ – but refused to give any further details.
It comes as tough new restrictions are announced for the North West, Midlands and West Yorkshire, with 6.3 million people banning from mixing outside their own household or support bubble.
Venues including pubs, bars and restaurants will be restricted to table service only and will be required to close between 10pm and 5am.
A report from the BBC claims a two-week national lockdown in October ‘could be announced in the next week’.
In a Government meeting held on Wednesday night, England’s top scientists suggested half-term could be a good time to shut the country down so schools could remain untouched, Financial Times claims.
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