Third lockdown would be disaster for London’s battered economy

FILE PHOTO: Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in London
Businesses and some MPs are calling for a major easing of the lockdown measures after December 2
REUTERS

Ministers faced a growing row today over whether relaxing restrictions too much for Christmas could lead to a “disastrous” third lockdown for London’s battered economy.

Businesses and some MPs are calling for a major easing of the lockdown measures after December 2 and for several households to be able to gather together during the festive season.

However, scientists are warning of the risks of large gatherings fuelling a fresh surge in Covid-19 cases which could mean another lockdown having to be imposed, inflicting a new wave of damage of many businesses already struggling to survive. Ministers are coming under intense pressure to say what arrangements will be in place after lockdown, particularly for the festive season.

They are considering tighter restrictions than the previous three-tier regime and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace highlighted how keeping pubs closed in some Tier 3 areas had proved more effective in fighting the virus than in those that kept them open.

He also stressed that the Government wanted to wait until the days before lockdown is lifted, so it has as much data on the pandemic as possible before deciding measures for the festive season. He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that he did not want to be “the Grinch that stole Christmas”. But he added: “If we don’t take correct measures, whether it’s Christmas or any other time, the consequences could be severe when it comes to hospital admissions and deaths.

“We have to balance lives with livelihoods because of course the consequences of crippling economies is other people suffer... because of unemployment. We have to get that balance right.”

The Christmas period is vital for many businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector. Des Gunewardena, chief executive of the D&D London fine dining group, said: “The Tier 2 rule, we would like to see that lifted. You just can’t have a Christmas without seeing and meeting people from other households.”

Simon Thomas, chief executive of the Hippodrome Casino, said: “If we have to live with Tier 1 or 2, so be it, but the curfew has to go.” Reports suggest households might be allowed to mix indoors for a five-day period from Christmas Eve, and that MPs are considering plans to allow three or four households to form bubbles.

However, a five-day easing could mean a potential 25-day period of tighter measures into January, according to scientists.

Andrew Hayward, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at UCL and a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, stressed that mixing at Christmas poses “substantial risks”, particularly for older people.

Speaking in a personal capacity, he also emphasised that the country was “on the cusp” of being able to vaccinate older populations and it would be “tragic” to throw away the gains made in suppressing coronavirus.

Meanwhile, MPs are calling for the blanket Covid restrictions across London to be ditched when lockdown ends.

They want measures to be tailored for each borough or cluster of boroughs depending on infection levels.

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