London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025

Government considering emergency 'total social lockdown' for London

Government considering emergency 'total social lockdown' for London

It could see pubs closed and household meetings banned for a fortnight

London could soon go into a social lockdown under a new emergency plan being prepared by ministers.

The lockdown, which could be enforced in London and most of the north of England, would see pubs, restaurants and bars ordered to close - initially for two weeks.

Households would also be banned from meeting each other in any indoor space indefinitely, The Times reports.

Schools, shops and factories would be allowed to stay open, as well as offices for staff who are not able to work from home.

This emergency plan is not a new idea: according to The Times, it was put to the cabinet's Covid-19 strategy committee before restrictions were tightened across the country on Thursday, September 24.

But fearing a backlash, six ministers, led by PM Boris Johnson, held the lockdown back.

And the day after new restrictions came into effect (Friday, September 25) London was put on the Government's official watchlist, which highlights every borough as an area of concern.

The list is put together based on a number of factors, including the rates of new cases detected in an areas, hospital admissions and specific outbreaks in communities.


The 10pm curfew has not made evenings in London much quieter


Sadiq Khan would welcome a ban on household mixing, which he has been encouraging Boris Johnson to enforce in the capital.

While official data shows London is not experiencing huge increases in infections compared with the rest of the country, the Mayor does not believe this data reflects the true nature of the situation - citing other figures such as visit to GPs and calls to NHS to prove the situation is more serious than it seems.

Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director for Public Health England, also warned of "much more widespread transmission" of Covid-19 in the capital.

He said: "As we continue our efforts, Londoners can do their bit to help by downloading the NHS Test & Trace App, adhering to government guidelines around the rule of six and remembering hands, face, space: wash your hands, wear a face covering and keep your distance."

The plans have reportedly been drawn up after local restrictions enforced in hotspots across most of the North and parts of the Midlands failed to reverse rises in infections.

And The Times quoted one Government figure, who described London's fate as "in the balance."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
×