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Drinkers hit pubs for final night of freedom before second lockdown begins

Drinkers hit pubs for final night of freedom before second lockdown begins
Partygoers became rowdy before England entered a second national lockdown at midnight (Picture: Getty Images/PA/AFP/North News & Pictures northn)

Revellers hit the town to enjoy one last night of freedom before England was plunged into a second national lockdown at the stroke of midnight.

Huge crowds of people were pictured getting rounds in before pubs, restaurants and essential shops closed their doors for at least four weeks.

There was a large police presence on the streets as some drinkers became rowdy when the 10pm curfew hit in cities including London, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle.

The capital was gridlocked as tens of thousands of drivers raced to leave before new restrictions came into force.

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The second country-wide lockdown comes after another 492 people died with coronavirus in 24 hours, with cases soaring by more than 25,000.

Boris Johnson has repeated his instruction from March, telling the public ‘you must stay home’ until December 2.

People living in England can leave their houses to go to work or school, to exercise, to shop for food or to visit church.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Police officers move crowds in Soho on November 4, 2020 in London, England. Non-essential businesses, including pubs and restaurants, will be forced to close from Thursday, Nov 5, following a new national lockdown in England. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
Police officers move crowds in Soho on November 4, 2020 in London, England (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: People are seen sitting at tables outside a restaurant in Soho on November 4, 2020 in London, England. Non-essential businesses, including pubs and restaurants, will be forced to close from Thursday, Nov 5, following a new national lockdown in England. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
People are seen sitting at tables outside a restaurant in Soho on November 4, 2020 in London, England (Picture: Getty Images Europe )
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Police officers arrest a man in Soho on November 4, 2020 in London, England. Non-essential businesses, including pubs and restaurants, will be forced to close from Thursday, Nov 5, following a new national lockdown in England. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
Police officers escort a man in Soho on November 4, 2020 in London, England (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
People out in Leeds city centre, ahead of a national lockdown for England from Thursday. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday November 4, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire
People out in Leeds city centre, ahead of a national lockdown for England (Picture: PA)

They may also head outside for medical reasons, to escape harm, to care for vulnerable people, to see a dying relative or close friend or to volunteer.

Care home visitors are encouraged to meet their loved ones through a window or in an outside setting, amid concerns about the mental health strain on residents and their families.

The shutdown was approved by MPs last night who voted in favour by 516 votes to 38. Restrictions were then cleared through Parliament after being approved by the House of Lords.

It comes as NHS England is moved into its highest level of emergency alert, with fears mounting it will run out of beds during the country’s second coronavirus wave.

Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, announced on Wednesday the health service would return to ‘level 4’ alert in response to the ‘serious situation ahead’.

He said: ‘This is not a situation that anybody wanted to find themselves in, the worst pandemic in a century, but the fact is that the NHS is here.

‘The public can help us help you so our fantastic staff – our nurses, our doctors, our paramedics – can get on with looking after you and your family there when you need it.’

Police officers scuffle with revellers in the street after pub closing time in Leeds, northern England on November 4, 2020, on the eve of a second novel coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown in an effort to combat soaring infections. - English pubs call last orders at the bar for a month on Wednesday evening, as the country effectively shuts down from November 5, for the second time this year to try to cut coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted that the lockdown for England would end
Police officers scuffle with revellers in the street after pub closing time in Leeds (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Dated: 04/11/2020 Revellers enjoy a final night out in the pubs and bars of Newcastle tonight (WED), before all establishments close for the second time this year with the introduction of Lockdown II at midnight.
Revellers wearing Santa hats enjoy a final night out in Newcastle (Picture: North News & Pictures northn)
Dated: 04/11/2020 Revellers enjoy a final night out in the pubs and bars of Newcastle tonight (WED), before all establishments close for the second time this year with the introduction of Lockdown II at midnight.
A woman and a man on the floor in Newcastle as they enjoy their last night out (Picture: North News & Pictures northn)
Peopleout in Birmingham city centre, ahead of a national lockdown for England from Thursday. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday November 4, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
People enjoyed a last night out in Birmingham city centre (Picture: PA)
Peopleout in Birmingham city centre, ahead of a national lockdown for England from Thursday. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday November 4, 2020. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire
Two men dance in Birmingham before new restrictions hit (Picture: PA)

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to confirm on Thursday that the 80% furlough scheme will continue for closed businesses beyond the lockdown period.

Mr Sunak will tell MPs the 80% furlough scheme will remain available beyond December 2 to any area of the UK under the highest Covid-19 restrictions, such as Tier 3 areas in England, according to The Sun.

He is also expected to announce that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will have access to the scheme, should they follow England in imposing national restrictions, according to the Telegraph.

The Bank of England is likely to slash its growth forecasts for the economy today, pumping in another £100 billion of quantitative easing to boost the economy.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/11/05/drinkers-hit-pubs-for-final-night-of-freedom-before-second-lockdown-begins-13539522/

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