The UK ordered a strict quarantine of another 20 million people due to the advance of the new strain of coronavirus

The #British government announced a extension of containment measures to include multiple regions as of midnight on #Wednesday, thereby a total of 44 million people they will fall under category 4 of epidemiological alert.

The measure, which already included 24 million people in #London, parts of the #East and #South #East of #England, now adds areas such as #Liverpool, #Birmingham, #Greater #Manchester and the #Northeast, reaching more than three quarters (78%) of the #English territory, before #New #Year’s #Eve and only a few hours after the approval of the #Oxford vaccine, heralded as a great hope to face the pandemic.

#Under these rules, non-essential stores and most other businesses are closed to the public, and almost all social gatherings are prohibited.

#Meanwhile, another 12 million inhabitants are under alert level 3, which forces pubs and restaurants to close.

#In most of the UK the rules had been relaxed to allow families to get together on #Christmas #Day, which, according to many health officials, could cause an increase in COVID infections.

#Speaking to #Parliament, #Health #Secretary #Matt #Hancock noted that the move was vital to combat a new strain of #Covid-19 that is spreading faster. #But he rejected calls to go further with the so-called “#Level 5”, or to implement a national lockdown.

#On #Tuesday, the #British government reported 53,135 new cases of COVID-19, the highest number since mass testing began in mid-2020, and a sharp rise from 41,385 infections from #Monday’s previous record.

“#We continue to see record levels of COVID-19 infection across the UK, which is extremely concerning, particularly as our hospitals are the most vulnerable”#Said #Susan #Hopkins, #Senior #Medical #Adviser for #Public #Health #England.

#Hopkins added that part of the daily increase in cases reflected the notification delays due to #Christmas, but the numbers were “largely a reflection of a real increase.”

(#With information from #Reuters)

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