Boris Johnson has warned us that stricter restrictions may be coming for the UK, in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
In a press conference this afternoon, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that stricter measures will be taken if people continue to ignore the advice on social distancing.
He said: “I don’t think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very very actively in the next 24 hours.” He continued: “We need to think about the kind of measures we’ve seen elsewhere—other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on people’s movements altogether. Now, as I say, I don’t want to do that.”
He reiterated the social distancing rules: that people must remain at least two metres apart, even in large open spaces. This follows the news that all National Trust parks and gardens were forced to close abruptly on Saturday evening, after concerns about the huge number of visitors.
He believes that people’s ability to go out and enjoy themselves should be preserved, but says that “it can only really be preserved if everybody acts responsibly and conforms with those principles of staying apart from one another.”
“In going outside now, in taking exercise, enjoying yourselves out of doors—you’ve got to take account of the medical advice; you’ve got to observe social distancing.
“If people can’t do that, won’t do that, don’t do that then, yes of course, we’re going to have to bring in tougher measures. We don’t want to do that, of course we don’t, but it may well be necessary”.
The most important thing that people need to understand is “their best bet to stop the spread of the disease, protect our NHS, save lives, is to stay at home if you possibly can.”