JAKARTA - British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson ordered British citizens to stay indoors to stop the spread of COVID-19. All shops, except those selling basic necessities, must be closed immediately. Family and friend gatherings are also prohibited. Johnson added that there were fines for non-compliance.
PM Johnson resisted pressure to impose a lockdown, even as other European countries did, in Tuesday, March 24. The British government has been forced to change tactics, as projections suggest the health system will be overwhelmed if the lockdown is enforced.
Johnson's press conference came after several councils and organizations moved independently to shut down public spaces in response to widespread concern about the number of people in public over the weekend. In addition, there are scattered photos of crowds spending time in parks, beaches and markets.
The British government has come under increasing criticism with the most explicit warning that Britain could face an atmosphere similar to Italy's impending national lockdown.
“We are thinking about this very actively in the next 24 hours. If people can't use the park in a two-meter way, then of course we have to look at the next steps, "stressed Johnson.
"We have to think about the kinds of actions that are being taken elsewhere, in other countries that are being forced to impose restrictions on movement," he added.
Currently, British people are only allowed to leave home to shop for basic necessities, exercise, medical needs, provide care or travel to and from work when absolutely necessary.
"From tonight I have to give simple instructions to the British people, you have to stay at home," PM Johnson said in a televised address, replacing his daily press conference.
"That's all. This is the only reason you should leave the house," he added, adding that there should be no gatherings of colleagues or family members who do not live in the same house.
The new steps will be reviewed in three weeks. Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn said he supported the measures. Meanwhile, the police chief said the move made sense. Therefore, the community is expected to follow these recommendations so that the lockdown is not necessary.
Under the new measures, the government will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public who do not live together and stop all social events, including weddings and baptisms. Even so, funerals are still allowed.
British Health Minister (Menkes) Matt Hancock admits there are problems in the provision of PPE. There was a letter asking him to add PPE supplies. More than six thousand doctors protested. Doctors feel like "bait" asked to risk their lives with outdated masks and scarce supplies of equipment.
Minister of Health Hancock promised to take action because of this. He said soldiers would drive trucks all day and night to provide supplies to medical staff. "It's like a war effort," said Hancock.
"This is a war on the virus so the army is very helpful in the logistics effort so that we can get supplies to protect those on the front lines," he added, saying the health service now has 12,000 ventilators, seven thousand more than it used to be. the beginning of the outbreak.
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