Britain implements strict COVID measures for Christmas

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has announced tighter restrictions for Christmas, as variant of coronavirus spreads fast across the country, the BBC reports.

The new variant is said to be responsible for an increase in hospitalisations, but there is no evidence to suggest that it is more severe than COVID-19 or resistant to recent vaccines. 

The prime minister said the stricter restrictions have been announced with a "heavy  heart," but he said "when the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defence.”

The new rules will affect much of south-east England, the BBC reports, as several people will only be able to mix indoors on Christmas Day.

Festivities in Scotland and Wales are also restricted to only Christmas Day, while Wales has moved forward its lock down measures to start from midnight.

Travel in and out of some communities in England have also been limited to "essential" only; while a ban has been placed on travel between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, starting Boxing Day.

Northern Ireland's lock down will also commence on Boxing Day. 

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the new strain of the virus means "very firm preventative action is now necessary", adding that this is "probably the most serious and potentially most dangerous juncture" since the start of the pandemic.

In a press conference, she revealed that there are 17 confirmed cases of the variant in Scotland, but she said that the figures are likely understated.

She said despite the low levels, the risk posed is real "if we do not act and act firmly".

She said Scotland must act "firmly and decisively now, or it will take hold."

Backlash from some leaders

But not all leaders have welcomed the stricter measures. 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "millions of families will be heartbroken by having Christmas plans ripped up."

He expressed frustration, noting that he had raised the issue of Christmas with Johnson at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, where the prime minister told people to have "a merry little Christmas."

"Today's announcement will only lead to confusion when people need certainty," he said, and called for the government to display "decisive leadership."

London's Mayor Sadiq Khan called the restrictions on the capital "a bitter blow for Londoners who were hoping to spend time with loved ones safely this Christmas."

"This continued chaos and confusion could all have been avoided had the government not made irresponsible promises to the public and raised expectations about the Christmas period," he is quoted by the BBC.

He said this is the toughest Christmas for the capital since World War II. 

Khan said implementing restrictions was not enough, and that the government needs to increase testing capacity, provide greater financial support and make face coverings mandatory in all busy outdoor public spaces.

And, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson, has also criticised the new measures.  

"The consequences of this decision will be severe," she said.

She said the government’s "stop-start approach" to coronavirus restrictions has been "deeply unhelpful" for retailers ahead of the usually busy and lucrative Christmas period.

COVID-19 cases in the UK have surpassed 2 million. 

The country's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said both infections and deaths have been rising rapidly since the start of December.

There was a four-week lock down of the country in November. 

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