LOCKTOBER

Will there be a two-week lockdown over half-term?

Lottie Tiplady-Bishop

Published: 12:07, 14 Oct 2020
Updated: 20:01, 14 Oct 2020

LABOUR leader Keir Starmer has called for a 'circuit breaker' lockdown over the October half-term.

But with the new three-tier system implemented, will the PM concede to the opposition's demands? Here's what we know so far.

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There is a 60 per cent chance a lockdown will be put in place over half-term, according to one cabinet memberCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Will there be a two week circuit breaker lockdown over half-term?

There is a 60 per cent chance Boris Johnson will bring in a "circuit breaker" lockdown over half-term - but the PM is desperately trying to avoid another national lockdown.

Growing demands for a short, sharp national lockdown to tackle surging Covid cases came as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for a shutdown of up to three weeks.

A cabinet source has predicted there is a 60 per cent chance the PM will bring in the measures, with No10 sources admitting the circuit breaker is the next course of action of the three-tiered approach fails.

But on October 14, 2020, Mr Johnson told PMQs that a circuit breaker lockdown would be a disaster for the nation.

The PM is desperately trying to avoid a full national lockdown againCredit: AFP or licensors

What would happen during circuit breaker lockdown?

During a circuit breaker lockdown, national measures will be implemented for a number of weeks in an attempt to reduce the R rate.

It's not totally clear what these measures would be - it's thought the period would see draconian restrictions closer to what was put in place in March.

But a 16-day lockdown in Scotland that was implemented on October 9 saw a strict booze ban, with pubs inside Scotland's so-called "central belt" - Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley - were ordered to shut their doors completely.

Meanwhile most other busniesses and schools remain open.

And in Northern Ireland, the country is set to plunge into a four-week circuit breaker lockdown with schools, pubs and restaurants all to close.

Schools will close for half of the four-week period while restaurants and bars will only be able to offer takeaways.

It's unclear how a circuit breaker would affect schoolsCredit: PA:Press Association

Will October half term be extended if there is a circuit breaker lockdown?

According to the Financial Times, scientists are sceptical keeping schools closed for a prolonged period of time would not significantly impact students' learning.

“As schools will be closed for one week at half-term, adding an extra week to that will have limited impact on education,” a Sage scientist said.

It's not clear whether schools would remain closed if a week-long circuit breaker was introduced, or if training would move online or if schools would be exempt for the measures.

However, if a circuit breaker was implemented it would last longer than the one week afforded for half-term.