Due to rapidly increasing cases, a third national lockdown began in January 2021, and began to be eased in March 2021. A second national lockdown began in November 2020, ending in early December and being replaced with tiered regulations. After the first nationwide lockdown ended, the government introduced localised tier regulations in England in areas with higher rates of COVID-19 infection and mandated face masks in certain settings across the country. On 23 March, with the death toll increasing and UK's hospital capacity at risk of being reached, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first of three nationwide lockdowns or stay-at-home orders in response to rising daily cases, hospitalisations and deaths. As the number of cases and deaths increased in the subsequent few months, the government enacted emergency powers on 19 March to introduce public health measures in an effort to control the spread of the virus. The UK's first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on 31 January 2020. Main articles: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom and British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic Unrelated protests were held by or in support of National Health Service staff involved in the frontline health response to demand for pay rises and improved working conditions. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested for violating lockdown restrictions, social distancing measures and other public health laws. The Economist described the protests as " countercultural" and attracting people from a variety of demographics and political leanings. Several media outlets blamed online COVID-19 misinformation, denialism and conspiracy theories as driving factors in the protest movement. These overlapped with anti-vaccination protests, which continued after the start of the UK's vaccination programme in December 2020. On Saturday, it reported more than 6,000 new cases and 34 deaths.Locations that have had reported anti-lockdown protestsĭuring the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, numerous protests took place over the government's response.Īnti- lockdown protests took place in opposition to restrictions, starting in April 2020 against the first national lockdown, and continuing during subsequent lockdowns and other regional restriction systems. With nearly 42,000 confirmed fatalities, Britain has the highest coronavirus death toll of any country in Europe. Some lawmakers, including those from Johnson's own Conservative Party, have criticized the prime minister for implementing new regulations without a vote in Parliament. curfew on pubs and restaurants, tougher face mask requirements and heftier fines for those not complying. Saturday's rally came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week announced new rules amid a sharp rise in infections. Police arrested 32 people during similar clashes in Trafalgar Square last weekend.Ī number of German cities have also seen recent protests against coronavirus restrictions. Groups of protesters have staged regular rallies in recent months over what they argue are unreasonable government-imposed curbs on everyday life. Many demonstrators then moved from Trafalgar Square to join another group amassing in Hyde Park. "Large gatherings are banned for a reason - you are putting the safety of our city at risk." I urge all protesters to leave now," London Mayor Sadiq Khan said on Twitter. Sadly, some officers have been injured while engaging with people." "We are asking those attending to disperse. "We want to be clear, this protest is no longer exempt from the regulations," police announced on Twitter about three hours after the protest began. But protests are exempt from that rule - on the condition that participants wear masks and adhere to social distancing. Read more: Berlin coronavirus protests trigger debate on basic rights in Germany Thousands of anti-lockdown protesters crammed into London's iconic Trafalgar Square, despite social distancing rules Image: Hollie Adams/Getty Imagesīritain's COVID-19 regulations limit gatherings to six people. Video footage showed officers using batons to drive protesters back, as people pelted them with bottles. Thousands of anti-lockdown demonstrators had gathered in the British capital chanting "Freedom!" and waving banners with messages such as "No to mandatory vaccines," "We do not consent" and "COVID-1984."īut things turned violent when police ordered the crowd to disperse, warning protesters they were violating the very social distancing and mask-wearing rules they had come to demonstrate against. Police and protesters clashed in London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday after officers tried to break up a rally against coronavirus restrictions.Īt least 10 people were arrested and four officers were injured, including two who had to be hospitalized, police said.
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