Update 12:07 pm: UK officials have told Britons to stop “all unnecessary travel” and stay way from bars and restaurants as numbers escalate.
Illinois may have closed it’s bars and restaurants, but worse things could be on the horizon for Seniors in the UK.
UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock announced Monday a “cross-party” package of emergency powers that could be enacted within weeks, forcing citizens 70 and up to self-isolate for up to four months to protect them from COVID-19.
Details on how such a quarantine process would come into play were not given. Meanwhile here in the States, Police struggle to keep people from gathering in large groups.
🚔 “Your actions are jeopardizing public health.” – New Orleans Police as they clear crowds from Bourbon Street. #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/Q2T0M5WrcC
— Brantly Keiek (@BrantlyWx) March 16, 2020
In an interview with BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Hancock said it would be a “very big ask” but a part of the government’s action plan to the virus.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced all bars and restaurants would be forced to close effective the end of business today, March 16th, following the lead of what France, Spain have done to combat the spread of COVID-19th. So far, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Washington state and New York City have all elected to suspend bar and restaurant activity.
The UK has yet to take such a step. So far the UK has over 1,300 cases with 35 deaths.
Italy, one of the worst-hit countries to date from COVID-19, reported 368 deaths and 3,590 new cases in one day. To date, the Country has reported a total of nearly 25,000 total cases and 1,809 deaths related to COVID-19.
