News

How the internet reacted to Boris Johnson announcing a third lockdown

How the internet reacted to Boris Johnson announcing a third lockdown

England has been placed under national lockdown measures once again.

It’s the third time such measures have been introduced and the second time schools have been closed in less than 12 months.

In a televised broadcast announcing the lockdown, Boris Johnson said:

“It’s been frustrating and alarming to see the speed with which the new variant is spreading. [...]. As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic.”

He then announced that people may only leave their homes for essential reasons like buying food, exercising or working if it cannot be done from home and advised clinically vulnerable people to begin shielding again.

As in the first national lockdown, Johnson also announced that schools will close until February half term at the earliest and that exams will not take place in summer as normal. University students have also been advised not to return to their campuses.

Similar measures have also been put into place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where schools have been shut.

Naturally, the news was met with disappointment.

And frustration with the government.

But the vaccine rollout offered some optimism.

Labour politicians demanded to know what financial measures would be put in place to keep people going.

And people questioned the point of opening schools for a single day before lockdown measures were introduced.

But some people are just ready to get back into Tiger King and Joe Wicks…

Further announcements, including clarity on financial measures to help people through the lockdown, are expected.

And while it’s unclear when lockdown measures will be lifted exactly, current estimates suggest it will be March at the earliest. 

Time to dust off that banana bread recipe.

The Conversation (0)
x