British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people on Tuesday to work from home where possible and ordered bars and restaurants to close early to tackle a fast-spreading second wave of Covid-19 with restrictions lasting probably six months.
After government scientists cautioned that deaths may soar without urgent action, Johnson stopped short of another full lockdown as he did in March, but said further action could be taken if the disease was not suppressed.
“We reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions,” Johnson told Parliament, following emergency meetings with ministers and leaders of the UK’s devolved governments.
“We will only be able to avoid it if our new measures work and our behaviour changes.”
He said Britain had reached a similarly perilous point as…