What is circuit breaker lockout? This is a question everyone is asking, because Scottish ministers are reviewing potential changes to the lockdown rules.
Although the use of Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford vaccines is incredible, and even young people try to get the second vaccine as soon as possible, the number of Covid-19 cases in the UK is still on the rise. Although this is not surprising, because no jab is 100% effective, it has attracted the attention of health experts and government ministers. Especially because, with the infection, the number of hospitalizations and deaths are also rising.
One of the measures the ministers took before was the lockout of circuit breakers, also known as fire lockout. These lockdown measures help prevent infections and give the NHS time to recover from the surge.
The circuit breaker lockout is a short but severe lockout that lasts only a few weeks. This is a short-term solution to reverse the infection trend and reduce the number of cases.
Although the rules feel very similar to our re-entering the locked state, the circuit breaker only works for a set period of time. After this time is over, people can live their lives as before.
The idea is that circuit breaker blockades are less harmful to the economy, education, and people's mental health because they allow people to plan restrictions ahead of time.
Wales was the first country to enter the circuit breaker lockout state last year. Picture source: Getty.
However, it is controversial as to how effective they are. Whether these locks are effective depends entirely on the strictness of the rules and how many people abide by these rules during the circuit breaker lockout period.
Fire wire and circuit breaker locking are the same thing.
In electronic products, a circuit breaker is an automatic electrical switch designed to protect the circuit from excessive current. Although the fire belt is similar, its name derives from the fire prevention method of marking a piece of land in the woods or forest, where the trees are removed to prevent the fire from spreading.
Wales referred to the October 2020 brief blockade as a "fire" blockade, while Northern Ireland referred to the November blockade as a "circuit breaker" blockade.
Circuit breaker blockade is one of the options presented to Chief Minister Nicolas Sturgeon by health experts. With the end of restrictions, the country’s current coronavirus cases are rapidly increasing. However, as of August 26, it has not been confirmed that Scotland will be in a state of circuit breaker lockout.
Other options include new social distancing rules and vaccine passports, which allow people to prove double vaccinations before participating in public events and international travel.
1/ The number of cases has risen sharply again today (the positive rate is lower than last year, reflecting more tests). Vaccines can still prevent serious diseases, but we all need to be careful and take action to minimize the risk of infection/spreading the virus. https://t.co/xhWFqmO494
-Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 25, 2021
According to sources in The Times, as winter approaches, the freedom of the summer months may be locked. In the winter, health experts expect that Covid-19 cases will surge anyway, because indoor spaces have fewer opportunities for ventilation and cold weather will weaken the body’s immune defenses.
Changes in restrictions may start again with some of the most preventive measures. The Scottish government’s guidelines have stated that masks must be worn in crowded places by next year.
"There are two options: you can plug in the circuit breaker, or you can turn it off completely in a short time. Or you can go back to the stage and say that we will limit indoor gatherings and we will reintroduce distance," the source told the newspaper.
According to Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi, England may enter a fire lockdown before the end of the year.
Mr. Zahavi does not deny that if the Covid-19 hospitalization rate is still high, a circuit breaker blockade can be implemented. However, he said it depends on whether people book boosters and booster plans for the elderly and the most vulnerable.
He said that the booster program is his "absolute priority." This is because it will "definitely help us transform the virus from a pandemic state to an endemic state." However, he did warn that the “one-way road to maintaining an open economy” will only happen “if we do well”.
One idea is to extend the half semester of October to two weeks. This will keep children away from school and provide room for the NHS to recover after the expected peak in early October.
However, since the beginning of March this year, the question of whether we will enter the lockdown again has been there. Since then, there have been no concrete signs that more restrictive measures are being implemented.
The prime minister promised to take "emergency measures" to "help control the virus during high-risk periods such as winter." But he also assured the public that the government will "do everything possible" to avoid restrictions.
England underwent a brief but severe lockdown in November last year with the purpose of responding to a surge in cases before Christmas. As we know, it is actually not that effective. The government had to abandon its plan to allow the upper class to live in families during the holidays. Then they placed the country under a long-term lockdown in the new year, which did not end until July 19.
But the important thing is that no vaccine was available to the public in November last year. We are now in a very different situation compared to earlier this year. According to the latest government data, 47 million people in the UK received the first dose of the vaccine. This counts as 87% of people over 16 years old. Nearly 41 million people—75% of them over this age—have also been vaccinated with these two vaccines. This, in turn, provides a significant opportunity for 75% of the population to avoid serious illness and death, as evidenced by the dramatic reduction in the number of hospitalizations in the ongoing third wave.
Although it is still important to keep in mind conditions such as long-term Covid, the government pays attention to the number of hospitalizations and deaths when making restriction decisions.
Similar to England, there are no reports that Wales will re-enter the circuit breaker blockade.
Nonetheless, since the ministers lifted the restrictions earlier this month, the country's cases are increasing. According to the 7 days as of August 20, the latest infection rate in Wales was 321.7 cases per 100,000 people.
Chief Minister Mark Drakeford (Mark Drakeford) said he is monitoring the situation and deciding whether to implement restrictions again.
It is very important that everyone who is eligible for vaccination accepts this proposal.
It is great to see that 50% of 16-17 year olds in Wales have received their first dose of vaccine.
Until we are all safe, none of us is safe. Book Now. https://t.co/2MbwHSIRp2
— Mark Drakeford (@fmwales) August 24, 2021
He said at a recent press conference: "In Wales, we have never said that getting rid of restrictions is a one-way street and there will never be any turning back."
However, the country has seen an incredible coronavirus vaccine in the newly eligible age group. Throughout the UK, approximately 12 to 15-year-olds can be vaccinated, and 50% of 16 to 17-year-olds in Wales have now received their first shot.
The country has implemented a fire lockdown on October 23 last year. It ends on November 9th and includes a ban on all non-essential activities unless you are a key employee.
There is no confirmation that Northern Ireland will enter the circuit breaker lockout state.
However, Northern Ireland recorded its highest ever number of coronavirus cases earlier this month. On Friday, August 13, the Ministry of Health recorded 2,397 cases and another 9 deaths from the virus.
Doctors are now warning ministers that people may die from other diseases.
Much like England, the Stormont ministers of Northern Ireland announced the implementation of a fire blockade in October last year.
Although this sounds like a good idea in theory, circuit breaker lockout will involve the strictest measures.
Last year in Northern Ireland, the hotel industry was closed-except for takeout and delivery. After 8 p.m., unlicensed and supermarkets cannot sell alcohol, and there is no indoor sports except for the elite level. Proximity services must also be closed, as are mobile hairdressers and makeup artists. However, the gym can continue to be open for single training-without any classes.
Last year, Chief Minister Mark Drakeford issued a fire lockdown order in Wales. He said at the press conference that all non-essential retail, leisure, hotel and tourism businesses must be closed. This means that everyone must work from home and stay indoors as much as possible, unless there are very limited reasons. People cannot meet with anyone other than their family members, except for those who live alone.
FM said at the time: "This fire prevention is the shortest time we can do. But it means that it must be sharp and deep in order to have the impact we need on the virus."
England had previously imposed a brief but severe lockdown-with mixed results. In November, the government announced another temporary lockdown measure in an attempt to contain the virus.
According to the Zoe Covid symptom study and the study of King's College London, the results of lockdowns vary across the country. Cases in the northern part of England, where the infection rate is highest, have fallen. But they rose in the central region and continued to rise during the blockade. Experts believe that this is due to reduced compliance, months of restrictions or last-minute social outbursts, because the highest rate occurs between 20 and 39 years of age. People in this age group are also the most exposed. They are the most common age group, engaged in public-facing jobs, such as in restaurants and bars.
In addition, schools were not closed during the circuit breaker blockade in England. This means that the infection levels of children and adolescents under 19 in schools and universities remain stable.