British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wearing a face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, is visiting a pharmaceutical production facility during a visit to the North East of England on 13 February 2021.
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The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, will announce on Monday how and when the lifting of the blockade restrictions in England will start.
Government ministers are expected to discuss details of the “roadmap” for the cautious reduction of the closure on Monday morning. The prime minister will then present the proposals to parliament later this afternoon, before holding a televised press conference in the evening.
Johnson is expected to establish the latest data on infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths, as well as early data showing the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines.
It is also expected to confirm that schools in England will reopen on March 8 and reveal more details about other restrictions to be lifted.
The government said in a statement that lifting the country’s third blockade, in effect since early January, “will seek to balance health, economic and social factors with the latest epidemiological data and advice.”
Data, not data
Johnson has repeatedly said that the relaxation of the measures will be prudent and determined by “data, not data”. However, he also said he wanted the lifting of the restrictions to be “irreversible”, as he was under pressure from members of his Conservative party to reopen the economy.
However, the government argued that relaxation should be done in stages to avoid any jump in infection rates.
“Today I will set out a roadmap to get us out of the blockade with caution,” Boris Johnson said in comments posted before Monday’s announcement.
“Our priority has always been to bring children back to school, which we know is crucial to their education, as well as their mental and physical well-being, and we will prioritize ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely.”
Patients arrive by ambulance at the Royal London Hospital on January 5, 2021 in London, England. The British Prime Minister addressed a national television speech on Monday evening, announcing that England will enter the third blockade of the covid-19 pandemic. This week, the UK registered more than 50,000 new cases confirmed by Covid for the seventh day in a row.
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“Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step and we will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have made so far and the sacrifices that each of you has made. made to keep others safe, “he added.
Four key tests
Johnson said the government has set four key tests to be completed before the UK can complete each stage of the plan. These are:
- That the vaccine implementation program continues successfully.
- Evidence shows that vaccines are effective enough in reducing hospitalizations and deaths in those vaccinated.
- Infection rates do not risk an increase in hospitalizations, which would put unbearable pressure on the National Health Service.
- That the risk assessment is not fundamentally altered by the new variants of coronavirus concern.
The government said that as the four tests are currently being carried out, the first step in lifting the lock restrictions will continue from March 8. The government has already said that nursing home residents will be able to have a visitor from that date.
Following the reopening of schools, the government said more measures could be eased to allow for socialization and limited outdoor sports.
The BBC reported on Monday that from March 29, outdoor gatherings of six or two households are expected to be allowed and that outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis or basketball courts, could be reopened. The broadcaster added that “it is also understood that people will be able to travel outside their areas again – although the guidelines will probably recommend staying locally and overnight stays will not be allowed”. It is not certain when pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops will be able to reopen.
Variants and vaccinations
A silver lining in the British pandemic experience was his response to vaccination. It was the first country in the world to approve a vaccine against coronavirus, the candidate for Pfizer and BioNTech, and to launch the shot in early December to the oldest members of the population, home employees and medical and hospital staff.
He then approved and began administering AstraZeneca / Oxford University Jab, a cheaper vaccine produced in the UK that is easier to transport and store than rival jabs, allowing it to maintain an enviable immunization rate.
Since then, it has extended the launch to several priority groups, such as all those considered clinically vulnerable, and intends to vaccinate every adult citizen in the UK before the end of July, bringing this goal in September. As of Saturday, more than 17.5 million adults had received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine, with more than 600,000 receiving both doses, according to government data.
Data show that new infections are declining, with early studies indicating that coronavirus vaccines also help prevent the transmission of the virus as well as prevent serious disease.
In the last seven days, the United Kingdom has registered 77,432 new cases of coronavirus, down 16.2% from the previous weekly number. The number of deaths in the last seven days, 3,414 deaths, is also 27.4% lower than the previous seven days. Hospitalizations are also declining.