Boris Johnson on January 13th.
Photographer: Ben Stansall / AFP / Getty Images
Photographer: Ben Stansall / AFP / Getty Images
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, said there are indications that the national coronavirus blockade is working, but warned that these are “early days” and that people must abide by the rules.
He did not rule out tightening restrictions if necessary, but told the House of Commons that existing rules could begin to help reduce infections. England is in the second week of its third national closure, with schools closed to most students and people have been ordered to stay home.
“We are now seeing the beginnings of some signs that this is starting to have an effect in many parts of the country, but by no means everywhere,” Johnson said Wednesday. “These are early days and people need to maintain their discipline, continue to enforce the rules and work together to deploy the vaccine program.”
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The prime minister said the rules remain under “constant review”, but made it clear he wants the country closed as soon as possible. “No one can doubt the serious damage that blockages cause to people’s mental health, jobs and livelihoods,” he said.
Johnson also confirmed that the government is working to provide coronavirus vaccines 24 hours a day, and told lawmakers, “We will go 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as soon as we can.”
This seemed to contradict his own official spokesman, who told reporters earlier this week that there is no “clamor” for overnight appointments. Currently, mass vaccination centers are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.