Thousands of people had crowded into London's main train stations and airports since mid-afternoon on Saturday to try to escape the confinement imposed on the British capital after the detection of a new strain of coronavirus, which has ruined the Christmas plans of millions of citizens.
“It is totally irresponsible,” Health Minister Matt Hancock declared desperately when presenter Sophy Ridge showed him images of the uproar at St. Pancras station, one of the most frequently congested and where the departures depart from. Eurostar trains that connect the island with the European mainland.
“It is absolutely irresponsible behavior.
The Chief Medical Director of the Government [Chris Whitty] already made it clear yesterday [for this Saturday] that people should start unpacking their suitcases ”.
St. Pancras, Paddington, Victoria ... The multitude of people who in the various London stations have tried to avoid last minute restrictions has caused an intense national debate in which irritation towards the Government is mixed, reproaches against those who try to flee and fear of the road ahead for the next few months.
"The new strain of the virus was totally out of control, and the only way to get it back under control was by reducing social contacts," Hancock explained.
"The vaccine is beginning to unfold, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we have a very difficult months ahead of us."
The words of the minister, one of the most worn-out political figures in public opinion for his role throughout this crisis, have hardly served to temper spirits.
Much less when, at the same time, the government was quick to warn that it will launch an extraordinary police deployment to prevent people from breaking the rules of isolation.
“Follow the established rules and do not go to a station, unless you have permission to travel.
We have deployed an extra number of police officers to verify that only those who have to travel for essential reasons can do so safely ”, said the Minister of Transport, Grant Shapps.
Spain studies joining the closure of flights to the United Kingdom decided by several European countries
Since midnight this Sunday, the inhabitants of London and large areas of the south and southeast of England have been under a new alert level, 4. “If you reside in a level 4 area, you cannot travel abroad to unless you have a permit.
You must also take into consideration the health guides of the country you are going to visit ”, establish the standards published by the British Government on the same Saturday afternoon.
Hours later, some countries such as the Netherlands, Italy or Germany announced their decision to ban flights from the United Kingdom.
The Eurostar company has made it clear that from Monday there will no longer be trains connecting London with Amsterdam or Brussels.
Boris Johnson will preside this Monday a meeting of the COBRA crisis cabinet (Meeting Room “A” of the Cabinet Office, in its acronym in English), after the Eurotunnel activities were suspended, and with them those of the port Briton from Dover.
“The prime minister will discuss the situation, as regards international transport.
Especially everything that concerns trucking, ”said a Downing Street spokesman.
The chaos of the first hours was evident, with few controls at stations, airports and roads, and flights that have continued to take off to European destinations.
The airlines had not canceled their flights and the only option they offered to travelers who were reconsidering their plans was to change the ticket for another date.
The leader of the Labor opposition, Keir Starmer, has given the support of his party to the new restrictions, but accuses the Johnson government, which just three days before the sharp turn was encouraging citizens to go shopping and celebrate Christmas with caution, of "gross negligence" and of adding unnecessary confusion at a very delicate moment.
The mayor of London, also the Labor party Sadiq Khan, has also charged harshly against the Government for its "irresponsible promises" that there would be no problems during Christmas.
"London is now facing the toughest Christmases since the war and the whole city will need to pull in the same direction to get out of this terrible period," he said.
The same queues to travel were seen throughout the capital this Saturday afternoon to make last minute purchases.
As of midnight on Sunday, all businesses have closed their doors again and abandoned any hope of recovering the losses accumulated in a fateful year.
The British Merchants Confederation (BRC) has blamed the government for a "back and forth" strategy that has proven "grossly counterproductive."
Minister Hancock has acknowledged that the new confinement rules will remain in effect for at least the next two months.
Information about the coronavirus
- Here you can follow the last hour on the evolution of the pandemic
- Restrictions search engine: What can I do in my municipality?
- This is how the coronavirus curve evolves in the world
- Download the tracking application for Spain
- Guide to action against the disease
