By What would a full lockdown look like?
As the world battles against coronavirus, several European countries have been forced into full lockdown. The UK government is now considering imposing additional social distancing measures, including a full lockdown, but what would this look like?
It is not yet known for sure whether the country or capital will go into a ‘full lockdown’, or ‘mass quarantine.’
However following yesterdays broadcast in which Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that public must stop congregating in public or face new coronavirus enforcement measures within 24 hours, it is thought that the UK government might implement similar measures to those previously seen in Italy, which banned the public from all non-essential movements.
A lockdown is an emergency protocol that prevents people from leaving a particular area. A lockdown in the UK would be expected to allow for essential supply runs, meaning trips to grocery stores, a doctor, pharmacies and banks. All non-essential facilities would remain shut for the entire period.
It is unclear what the consequences for breaking such restrictions would be, or what a lockdown in the uk might look like. However, the approach seen in Wuhan, China, has become the model for other countries with outbreaks that appear to be sliding out of control.
When China announced plans to place Wuhan under lockdown, the news was greeted with shock around the world. Experts warned that it was an unprecedented and risky attempt to control the virus that might not work. Nearly two months later, the daily number of new cases in China is down to single digits last week, and Wuhan is starting to emerge.
In the case of Wuhan, no journeys were allowed in or out of the city, even for those with compelling medical or humanitarian reasons. Public transport was suspended and private cars barred from the roads in most circumstances.
The only people allowed into any particular building were its inhabitants, authorities, or people providing help to elderly or disabled. School holidays were extended, and most shops were forced to close.
People were only allowed to leave their homes to get essential supplies or seek medical help, and anyone who did go out was required to wear a mask.
Two weeks later, authorities began ordering house-to-house searches for potentially infected individuals, and forcing them into quarantine.
The lockdown in Wuhan lasted for two months.
The prime minister said the situation at home will be “under constant, constant review.”
Updates are expected today.
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