England May Be Lifting Nearly All Of Its Coronavirus Restrictions By July 19

Enlarge this image


Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives an update on relaxing restrictions imposed on the country during pandemic at a virtual press conference at Downing Street on July 5.





WPA Pool/Getty Images



hide caption



toggle caption


WPA Pool/Getty Images





Enlarge this image


A pedestrian wearing face mask walks past a row of telephone boxes on Sunday in London.





Hollie Adams/Getty Images



hide caption



toggle caption


Hollie Adams/Getty Images




A pedestrian wearing face mask walks past a row of telephone boxes on Sunday in London.


Hollie Adams/Getty Images


Officials are alarmed by the spread of the delta variant


At the same time, public health officials have grown increasingly alarmed by the rapid spread of the delta variant, which was first identified in India. Total cases have shot up from around 2,000 per day earlier this year, to roughly 25,000 per day over the past week. Soon, Johnson warned, that tally could climb to 50,000 per day.

But while acknowledging the potential for a further uptick in cases, Johnson said vaccines «have helped to break the link between disease and death.

Johnson and other officials have pointed to data showing roughly 1,900 people in the hospital now for COVID-19, compared to around 35,000 nationally during the winter. Deaths have fallen to about 18 per day, down from a peak of just over 1,800 in one day in January.

«We have to balance the risks, Johnson said. «The risks of the disease, which the vaccines have reduced but very far from eliminated and the risks of continuing with legally enforced restrictions that inevitably take their toll on people’s lives and livelihoods.


Johnson’s announcement sparked a backlash


Still, his announcement was met by fierce backlash Monday from opposition lawmakers, who called the move dangerous and premature.

«Lifting all protections in one go when the infection rate is going up is reckless, said Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party. «A balanced approach, a proper plan would say keep key protections. One of them would be masks in enclosed places, on public transport. That’s a common sense position.

If the changes do take effect this month, they will only apply in England, as opposed to all of the United Kingdom. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are following their own roadmaps for lifting restrictions.