The leader of Catholics in England and Wales says ministers should not close places of worship

The leader of Catholics in England and Wales has urged the government not to close churches amid record COVID-19 infection rates.

Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols said it was clear that large places like churches are ‘not places where we spread the virus’.

boris johnson Will oppose the imposition of more restrictions in England after ChristmasAccording to speculation, after the figures emerged omicron Delta may cause less severe disease than the COVID-19 strain.

The Archbishop said, ‘I would sincerely appeal that they do not consider closing churches and places of worship again’ BBC Before Midnight Mass at Westminster Cathedral.

The COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 led to the closure of places of worship as Britain went under complete lockdown, with religious buildings only reopening in June and July 2020.

From June 15, 2020, places of worship in England are able to host individual prayers and funerals. Public worship was allowed to resume in England on July 4, 2020.

“I think this country has shown that people can make good decisions for themselves,” the archbishop said.

‘We are saying at that point that we understand the risk. We know what we should do. Most people are sensible and cautious. We don’t need a strong force to teach us what to do.’

This comes after the UK recorded 122,186 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases as of 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve, another record daily figure, while 137 people died within 28 days of testing positive. .

From June 15, 2020, places of worship in England are able to host individual prayers and funerals. Public worship was allowed to resume in England on July 4, 2020. In the picture, Westminster Cathedral

Reports claim that the minister is looking at hospitalization numbers in the capital, imposing a two-week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown if the daily number exceeds 400.

Covid hospital admissions in London – Britain’s Omicron ground zero – are within touching distance of the government’s 400 limit to begin nationwide lockdown restrictions

Covid hospitalizations are now doubling almost every 10 days – although they are still far from the 850 they peaked last January

A graph showing the daily count of COVID patients in mechanical ventilation beds. Johnson may have to call on more restrictions by Tuesday at the latest so that they can be implemented in time for New Year’s Eve.

In Scotland, nightclubs will close for at least three weeks from 27 December as part of a package of measures to control the spread of the virus, while clubs in Wales and Northern Ireland will close from Boxing Day.

But in England, the government may choose to issue new voluntary guidance on limiting contacts rather than risk another damaging Tory rebellion by calling back Parliament to enforce the new rules.

The prime minister has indicated he will not hesitate to act after Christmas if necessary – Monday is expected to be the first opportunity for ministers to consider whether changes are needed beyond existing Plan B measures .

Possible new restrictions could include a return to the rule of six and a ban on socializing with other households indoors – and they could be in effect by the end of March, according to government scientific advisers.

Admission to Covid Hospital in London – UK omicron Ground zero – are within touching distance of the government’s 400 limit to begin with lockdown Countrywide restrictions.

Latest NHS Data shows there were 386 new admissions to the virus in the capital on December 22, a 92 per cent increase over the previous week’s figure.

The number of Covid hospitalizations is now doubling almost every 10 days – although they are still far from the 850 they peaked last January.

Johnson may have to call on more restrictions by Tuesday so that they can be implemented in time for New Year’s Eve, many times Report.