Sadiq Khan has issued a warning to Londoners ahead of measures to lock down the coronavirus further easing in the capital.
On Saturday (July 4), pubs, restaurants, bars and other non-essential establishments will reopen across the country, with a number of new measures in place to protect staff and customers.
But the Mayor of London wants to remind the public that it’s not just up to workers to keep people safe.
Khan tweeted: “As the lockdown eases and more businesses begin to reopen, the responsibility to look out for each other becomes even greater.
“Help keep our city safe – always wear a face covering on public transport and when you can’t keep a safe distance.”
The tweet also included a picture of a woman wearing a face mask, with the caption: “I wear mine when I’m grocery shopping.”
Although it is not currently legal to wear face coverings in shops, Khan has called on Boris Johnson to order this.
NHS officials are already advising people who are able to wear face masks to do so when using public transport, visiting a hospital or in enclosed public spaces such as shops.
Lockdown restrictions may continue to ease, but almost half of London’s boroughs are at risk of being locked down again.
Coronavirus cases are on the rise in 15 boroughs, and local lockdowns could be put in place if the trend continues.
Areas where cases are increasing week-on-week include Brent, Ealing, Hounslow, Wandsworth and Westminster, the Daily Express reports.
Sadiq Khan has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock asking what powers and resources will be available to deal with local outbreaks of Covid-19.
In the letter sent on Monday (June 29), Khan said: “As lockdown measures are eased, we must do everything we can to prevent a second wave.
“While we hope that the number of Covid-19 cases will remain low, we must be prepared for the possibility of local outbreaks and peaks.
“To support a localized approach, we need more information about the government’s plans to mobilize and deliver responses to local outbreaks.
“Without further clarity on the powers and resources available to London to deal with any ‘local lockdown’ or enhanced social distancing measures, we cannot deliver public confidence in the response that Londoners expect and deserve.”
As it stands, local authorities may close places where there are outbreaks of the coronavirus, in an attempt to control the outbreak. Authorities can then use contact tracing to get in touch with those who may have been infected.
It is currently unclear how a local lockdown in a town or city would work in practice, and questions remain as to whether it would be an effective way to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.
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