A new strain of coronavirus infection spreading in the UK is forcing the government into desperate measures in an already weakened economy
The variant COVID-19 identified in the kingdom is spreading much faster. The new strain accounts for more than 60% of all new infections. Against this background, the authorities are tightening quarantine, which, according to Bloomberg, will cause considerable political damage to the government of Boris Johnson, as well as economic damage to the entire nation.
The extremely tight restrictions for London and parts of south-east England are designed to contain the spread of a strain of the virus that is challenging previous control methods and even vaccination. At the same time, the quarantine will affect economic activity.
“This more pronounced double-dip recession for the UK increases the risk of ‘scarring’, in which short-term problems become longer-term structural impediments to a dynamic supply and demand response”, – the paper said.
It is also worth noting that the tightening of quarantine measures comes amid the crisis of negotiations on a trade agreement with the European Union. The UK will start the new year already fully independent from the EU, which will affect the kingdom’s economy regardless of whether or not a deal is struck.