After 16 months, life is slated to start again in England after the pandemic. Premier Johnson wants to use the momentum, the economy is excited. But questions remain.
Despite the sharp rise in new infections, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to end all corona measures in England soon. From July 19 onwards, distance rules and mask requirements will no longer apply, as will the home office, pubs no longer have to be served exclusively at the table, nightclubs are allowed to reopen, there are no longer any space restrictions at events and for cinemas, stadiums and theaters No proof of vaccination or test is required to enter. In addition, the government wants to announce soon whether fully vaccinated travelers from countries on a “yellow list” such as Germany will still have to go into quarantine for ten days after arrival.
Johnson emphasized on Monday in London that the binding decision would be made on Monday (July 12th) after a further review of the pandemic data. Months ago, the prime minister announced a “cautious but irrevocable” way out of the corona regulations. The final stage had already been planned for June 21, but Johnson had postponed it for four weeks because of the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. In view of a successful vaccination program, the prime minister now sees the conditions for the last step fulfilled – despite criticism from science, trade unions and politics.
Criticism of Boris Johnsons Corona-Politics
However, contrary to what was expected, the prime minister was not as enthusiastic. “I don’t want people to feel that this is the moment we demobilize, that this is the end of Covid. We are still very far from the end,” he said – adding that one new variant, against which no vaccine works, could make new protective measures necessary. His key scientific advisors, Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, who stood by Johnson’s side at the press conference, indicated that it was primarily a political decision.
Experts were skeptical of the UK Prime Minister’s unprecedented plans. The country is in unknown territory, said the virologist Devi Sridhar, the Sky News channel. “This is a massive experiment and the world will be watching closely what happens when a new, dominant variant emerges.”
Opposition calls Johnson’s plans “ruthless”
Scientists and unions criticized above all that the mask requirement should be lifted. An association that represents relatives of corona victims also accused Johnson of acting as if the pandemic had been defeated. Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer called Johnson’s plans “ruthless”.
Business representatives, on the other hand, were pleased and relieved. The hospitality and tourism industries will celebrate the announcement, said UK Hospitality head Kate Nicholls. The British Beer and Pub Association pointed out that more than 2000 pubs could finally open that are currently still closed due to strict distance rules. For the event industry, the head of the Night Time Industries Association, Michael Kill, said the move was long overdue. The industry association CBI warned that companies must continue to put the safety of their employees first.
Seven-day incidence in the UK last at 229.9
Premier Johnson said the vaccination program helped significantly weaken the link between new infections and deaths. All adults in Great Britain should be offered a first corona vaccination by July 19, and two thirds should then have received the two doses considered necessary for full protection. To increase the pace, the time between the two injections for under 40-year-olds is to be reduced from twelve to eight weeks.
In the UK, the number of infections has been rising sharply for weeks, and the authorities reported 27,334 new cases on Monday. The seven-day incidence, i.e. the number of new infections per 100,000 people within a week, was last given as 229.9 (as of June 30). The reason for this is the highly contagious Delta variant, which now accounts for almost all cases in Great Britain.
Health policy in the UK is a matter for regional governments. Johnson is responsible for most of England, which has no government of its own. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, on the other hand, decide for themselves about their Corona measures.
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