LONDONERS must be sporting face masks outdoors whereas purchasing for Christmas, Sadiq Khan has stated at the moment.
The Mayor of London has urged customers to put on face coverings on the excessive streets because the capital inches nearer to touchdown in Tier 3.
⚠️ Learn our coronavirus live blog for the newest information & updates
The Mayor of London has urged customers within the capital to put on face masks open air on busy excessive streetsCredit score: London Information Footage
Sadiq Khan has known as for presidency assist if London goes into Tier 3Credit score: Pacific Coast Information
Mr Khan wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister: “Face coverings also needs to be made obligatory in busy outside public areas, given the numbers on our excessive streets within the run as much as Christmas.”
Masks are already obligatory on public transport, in railways stations airports and outlets, they usually should be worn in cafes, pubs, bars and eating places earlier than being seated.
Face masks that go over the nose and mouth are required as a result of the virus spreads via droplets which are launched when an individual coughs or sneezes.
Scientists have stated the danger of catching the killer bug outdoors is not as seemingly as being indoors.
Nevertheless, the federal government does advise sporting a face masks if it is tough to socially distance from others – reminiscent of procuring on a crowded excessive road.
In the identical letter, Mr Khan additionally requested the federal government for assist to fight the worrying improve in Covid-19 infections in London.
He also called for schools to close early and re-open later in January.
How would the foundations change if London goes into Tier 3?
If London is moved from Tier 2 to Tier 3, the primary distinction in restrictions is expounded to social gatherings, which is able to come as enormous blow with simply 9 days earlier than Christmas day.
In Tier 2, folks can meet in teams of six outdoors – together with locations reminiscent of public areas, personal gardens and outside areas of pubs or eating places.
Hospitality venues can even keep open so long as they serve a “substantial meal” with all gross sales of alcohol.
However in Tier 3, all hospitality venues must shut.
Folks in Tier 3 should not meet with folks from completely different households, except they’ve a assist bubble.
There are some restricted exceptions to this – that means teams of as much as six folks may meet in some outside public locations reminiscent of parks, seashores, public gardens and playgrounds.
Outlets, gyms and hairdressers can stay open in Tier 3.
He wrote: “I’m calling on the Authorities to urgently present further assist to get the unfold below management, save lives and livelihoods and guarantee our NHS just isn’t overwhelmed this winter.
Mr Khan added: “If the Authorities does resolve to introduce additional restrictions in London this week, the financial impression on companies could possibly be catastrophic with a whole bunch of hundreds of livelihoods at stake.
“I’m asking Ministers urgently to place in place a compensation scheme for all misplaced earnings for any companies affected by any additional restrictions throughout this significant festive interval primarily based on final yr’s returns. The Authorities should additionally cowl the complete value of Statutory Sick Pay for staff who need to self-isolate.”
Mr Khan will temporary London MPs on the newest figures, which present that the an infection is now doubling each 4 days within the metropolis.
Greenwich in South East London is the primary borough to close all faculties because the first lockdown.
And it comes simply days after the Authorities revealed it may pressure faculties to stay open by making use of for a Excessive Court docket injunction.
The nation’s tiers will probably be reviewed on Wednesday and London’s infection rate is the highest in the UK.
It leaves the capital susceptible to transferring into the ‘very excessive alert’ class, one thing the London mayor is eager to keep away from. The entire capital is presently below Tier 2 restrictions.
If town plunged into Tier 3, pubs and hospitality venues could be pressured to shut and folks would not be allowed to fulfill buddies in gardens.
A call on whether or not to vary London’s tier will probably be made on Wednesday and any change will come into impact on Saturday, December 19.
The principles on gathering with folks from different households would then be relaxed from December 23 for 5 days to permit households to get collectively over Christmas, however different restrictions would stay in place.
The worst affected areas of the capital are within the east, together with Walthamstow, Redbridge, Newham and Barking.
Sadiq Khan’s letter in full
“
The surge in coronavirus circumstances throughout our capital is deeply regarding. I’m calling on the Authorities to urgently present further assist to get the unfold below management, save lives and livelihoods and guarantee our NHS just isn’t overwhelmed this winter.
“Elevated testing is vital to this, which is why I wish to see common asymptomatic testing prolonged to all these unable to earn a living from home and to college students and workers at London’s secondary faculties, sixth-form faculty and FE schools. With important outbreaks amongst 10 to 19-year-olds, the Authorities should take into account asking faculties and schools to shut early and re-open later in January, with additional useful resource supplied to assist on-line studying. Face coverings also needs to be made obligatory in busy outside public areas, given the numbers on our excessive streets within the run as much as Christmas.
“If the Authorities does resolve to introduce additional restrictions in London this week, the financial impression on companies could possibly be catastrophic with a whole bunch of hundreds of livelihoods at stake. I’m asking Ministers urgently to place in place a compensation scheme for all misplaced earnings for any companies affected by any additional restrictions throughout this significant festive interval primarily based on final yr’s returns. The Authorities should additionally cowl the complete value of Statutory Sick Pay for staff who need to self-isolate.
“2020 has been a dismal yr for our once-thriving hospitality sector and world-famous cultural scene, which each contribute billions to our economic system and entice thousands and thousands of tourists. With out defending them, there will be no significant restoration.
“The rollout of the vaccine has supplied some gentle on the finish of what has been a really darkish tunnel, however that is no time to be complacent and we can’t let so many months of compromise and sacrifice go to waste. Time is operating out to get the virus below management in our metropolis which is why I urge the Authorities to heed my name and supply us with the additional assist we desperately want. Londoners at all times work collectively – and collectively our metropolis will get via the winter and might stay up for higher occasions forward.”
