British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sunday that the government has imposed a strict Christmas lockdown in London and southeast England because a new strain of the coronavirus was “out of control”.
Hancock warned that the strict measures that affect almost a third of England’s population could stay in place until the virus vaccine is fully rolled out.
“We acted very quickly and decisively,” Hancock told Sky News, justifying the “stay at home” order, ban on family gatherings over Christmas and closure of non-essential shops.
“Unfortunately the new strain was out of control. We have got to get it under control.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that …
Keep on reading: Britain says new virus strain ‘out of control’