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Boris Johnson has refused to rule out introducing a stricter lockdown measures for London than the rest of the nation as the capital suffers an accelerate spread of the coronavirus.
The Prime Minister, specifically referencing the possibility of shutting down the city, told his daily press conference on Wednesday that it would be “quite wrong” to not leave open such an option.
A senior Government source earlier ruled out strict measures being imposed in the capital imminently, but suggested they could be enforced as early as Friday. “It’s not going to happen today or tomorrow,” the source said.
And addressing the nation later, Mr Johnson said: “”We do not rule out – because it would be quite wrong to do so – taking further and faster measures in due course.”
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon first suggested that “more stringent” measures could be introduced earlier in London, because it is ahead on the “infection curve”.
Ms Sturgeon, who has been receiving Cobra emergency briefings, said “we know London is ahead of the rest of us” when asked how far the UK was from a complete lockdown.
London Museums and Galleries closed during Coronavirus
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A pedestrian in a face mask walks past the National Gallery
AFP via Getty Images
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British Museum
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Tate Britain Museum
REUTERS
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British Museum
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A sign outside the Natural History Museum declares the building temporarily closed
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An empty gallery is seen within the V&A Museum
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An empty gallery is seen within the V&A Museum
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British Museum
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British Museum
PA
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British History Museum
PA
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A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks past the National Portrait Gallery
AFP via Getty Images
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‘A Rakes Progress’ by William Hogarth is displayed alongside contemporary work ‘Low Relief’ by John Riddy during the “Hogarth: London Voices, London Lives” exhibition photocall at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery on March 17, 2020 in London, England. The exhibition was due to open to the public on the 18th March. However, the gallery will be temporarily closed until further notice
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: ‘Long Live Southbank’ by Grassroots Activist Group during the “Hogarth: London Voices, London Lives” exhibition photocall at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery on March 17, 2020 in London, England. The exhibition was due to open to the public on the 18th March. However, the gallery will be temporarily closed until further notice.
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Visitors to the Victoria and Albert Museum
PA
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A pedestrian in a face mask walks past the National Gallery
AFP via Getty Images
2/14
British Museum
Getty Images
3/14
Tate Britain Museum
REUTERS
4/14
British Museum
Getty Images
5/14
A sign outside the Natural History Museum declares the building temporarily closed
Getty Images
6/14
An empty gallery is seen within the V&A Museum
Getty Images
7/14
An empty gallery is seen within the V&A Museum
Getty Images
8/14
British Museum
Getty Images
9/14
British Museum
PA
10/14
British History Museum
PA
11/14
A pedestrian wearing a face mask walks past the National Portrait Gallery
AFP via Getty Images
12/14
‘A Rakes Progress’ by William Hogarth is displayed alongside contemporary work ‘Low Relief’ by John Riddy during the “Hogarth: London Voices, London Lives” exhibition photocall at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery on March 17, 2020 in London, England. The exhibition was due to open to the public on the 18th March. However, the gallery will be temporarily closed until further notice
Getty Images
13/14
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 17: ‘Long Live Southbank’ by Grassroots Activist Group during the “Hogarth: London Voices, London Lives” exhibition photocall at Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery on March 17, 2020 in London, England. The exhibition was due to open to the public on the 18th March. However, the gallery will be temporarily closed until further notice.
Getty Images
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Visitors to the Victoria and Albert Museum
PA
Mr Johnson said he was reluctant to issue edicts restricting lives, and implored people to follow the advice to socially distance themselves to slow the spread of Covid-19.
“But let’s be absolutely in no doubt that these are very, very important choices that we are now making in our daily lives,” the Prime Minister told his daily coronavirus press conference.
“And the more closely and the more strictly, more ruthlessly, we can enforce upon ourselves, our families, the advice we are getting, then the better we will be able to protect our NHS, the fewer deaths we will have and the less suffering there will be in the UK population.”
As yet it is unclear what exactly the possible stricter measures on the capital would look like.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has not attended a Cobra meeting since Monday and has reportedly not been informed about any drastic restrictions on Londoners’ lives.
“We haven’t had any information on that,” a mayoral source said when asked about a lockdown.
