This archive report was first published on 5 July 2021.
On July 19, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a plan to lift most, if not all, of England's pandemic restrictions, marking a significant shift in the country's COVID-19 response.
The move comes as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread, accounting for nearly all new COVID-19 cases in Britain. Despite this, mass vaccinations have helped prevent a surge in hospitalizations and deaths.
Johnson had initially aimed for a full reopening on June 21, but was forced to push back the date due to the surge in cases. The UK's other nations – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – are moving at a slower pace.
According to Johnson, the successful rollout of the vaccination program has allowed the country to progress cautiously through its roadmap. He emphasized the need to 'restore people's freedoms' while acknowledging that the pandemic is not over and cases will continue to rise in the coming weeks.
As the country begins to learn to live with the virus, the government is urging citizens to exercise judgment when going about their lives. Care Minister Helen Whately noted that 86% of British adults have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and 63% have received their second dose.
However, scientists have expressed concern that hospitals and medics could be stretched anew if the Delta variant runs amok or new strains emerge. The British Medical Association has urged the government to maintain some restrictions due to the alarming increase in COVID cases, which are running at nearly 30,000 a day.
Johnson's plan to lift restrictions includes the relaxation of social distancing measures, the reopening of nightclubs, and the scrapping of a requirement to register personal details every time individuals enter a pub or restaurant. However, businesses can still impose their own rules, and it remains to be seen whether operators of mass transit will drop the wearing of masks on trains and buses.
