UK PM Boris Johnson announced the third national lockdown

England gambling venues forced to close until at least mid-February

"With most of the country already under extreme measures, it’s clear that we need to do more together to bring this new variant under control while our vaccines are rolled out,” UK PM Boris Johnson said Monday.
2021-01-05
Reading time 1:52 min
The new measure announced Monday is effective as of Tuesday midnight amid a new variant of Covid-19 in the UK. All casinos, bingo halls, betting shops must close. Racing will continue without fans and with only essential personnel in attendance. Similar lockdown rules have also been introduced in Scotland until the end of January, while Northern Ireland and Wales already have in place lockdown restrictions.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday that England is adopting its third national lockdown as of Tuesday midnight until at least February 15, which includes the closure of the land-based gaming industry. The measure is part of new efforts to contain a new, highly contagious variant of Covid-19.

People can only leave their homes to shop for essentials, work if they can’t from home, exercise, go to the doctor’s and escape domestic abuse, he said. The U.K.’s chief medical officers recommended the country move to alert level 5, meaning that if the country doesn’t take action the National Health Service capacity “may be overwhelmed in 21 days,” Johnson said.

The changes come as the U.K. faces a more transmissible variant of Covid-19. To date, the country has recorded over 2.6 million cases of coronavirus and more than 75,000 related deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The strict new restrictions will be similar to the first lockdown last March, forcing dozens of businesses not already closed under the local tier system to shut. The list of businesses that are forced to close includes entertainment venues such as casinos, bingo halls, betting shops, amusement arcades, theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, bowling alleys, skating rinks, go-karting venues, indoor play and soft play centres and areas (including inflatable parks and trampolining centres), circuses, fairgrounds, funfairs, water parks and theme parks.

On Monday afternoon, Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced a new stay-at-home order for the country’s citizens from midnight. Northern Ireland and Wales already have in place lockdown restrictions.

UK racing continues

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed that racing will continue without fans and with only essential personnel in attendance shortly after Boris Johnson’s announcement.

The statement from the BHA read: “Following this evening’s broadcast, we can confirm racing will continue behind closed doors during the upcoming national lockdown. Attendance will be limited to those essential to the staging of fixtures and strict adherence to British racing’s COVID-19 protocols will continue to be required for all who attend.”

Scottish Racing, which represents Ayr, Hamilton Park, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth tweeted: “Following today’s announcement that Scotland is to re-enter full Covid restrictions, @ScotGov has confirmed that racing in Scotland can continue behind closed doors. Only individuals essential to staging the fixtures should attend race meetings and are required to continue to follow the strict protocols already in place. Unfortunately, no owners will be permitted to attend a racecourse until further notice.”

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