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Labour leader Starmer accuses UK government of losing control of coronavirus as Johnson steps up control measures

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British opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer (pictured) accused the government on Tuesday (22 September) of having lost control of the coronavirus crisis, saying “there should be nothing inevitable about a second lockdown”, write Guy Faulconbridge, Elizabeth Piper, David Milliken, Andy Bruce, Estelle Shirbon, Sarah Young and Michael Holden.

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions to come into force to tackle an increase in COVID-19 cases, Starmer used a speech to his party’s conference to say while Labour would be constructive and needed the Conservative government to succeed, he also criticized the testing system.

“But instead of getting a grip, the government has lost control. Our testing system collapsed just when we needed it most,” he said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people on Tuesday to work from home where possible and will curb timings for bars and restaurants to tackle a fast-spreading second coronavirus wave, but the opposition accused him of losing control.

With millions across the United Kingdom already under some form of COVID-19 restriction, Johnson will tighten measures in England while stopping short of another full lockdown like he imposed in March, according to his office and ministers.

Johnson held emergency meetings with ministers, addressed parliament at 11h30 GMT and then spoke to the nation at 19h GMT after government scientists warned that the death rate would soar without urgent action.

Just weeks after urging people to start returning to workplaces, Johnson now advised them to stay at home if they can. He also ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites across England to start closing at 22h from Thursday (24 September).

“There is going to be a shift in emphasis. If it is possible for people to work from home, we are going to encourage them to do so,” Michael Gove, the minister for the cabinet office, told Sky News.

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The new curbs will restrict the hospitality sector to table service only, though Gove said he wanted those who could not work from home - for example in manufacturing, construction and retail - to continue to work from COVID-secure workplaces.

Schools will also stay open, he said.

It was unclear if the measures would be enough to tackle Britain’s second wave, which government scientists warned could reach 50,000 new cases per day by mid-October.

The United Kingdom already has the biggest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe - and the fifth largest in the world - while it is borrowing record amounts to pump emergency money through the damaged economy.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned that the “very unfortunate” escalation of COVID-19 cases threatened the economic outlook and said the central bank was looking hard at how it could support the economy further.

Pub operator JD Wetherspoon said it could cut 400-450 jobs at sites at six airports, including London’s Heathrow and Gatwick, because of the large drop in passengers.

(Interactive graphic tracking global spread: Here)

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