On track to end lockdown on 19 July: UK health minister
UK Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Tuesday that the United Kingdom is on track to lift all COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on July 19 as the figures for deaths and hospitalizations from the coronavirus are “encouraging”.
“We are on track for the opening on 19 July and we will watch carefully, we will look at the data early next week specifically,” Hancock told the BBC.
“The figures for the past week have been encouraging, especially considering the number of people who have died – which is staying very low,” he said.
His comments came after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated on Monday that things were “looking good” for England’s coronavirus restrictions to be the “terminus point” on 19 July, even as he looked forward to “roughly” warned of a cold”.
However, he added that flu vaccines could be offered along with a coronavirus booster jab in the autumn to prevent the need for a lockdown later in the year.
Britain reported 10,633 new coronavirus cases and five more deaths, according to official daily figures released on Monday.
Hancock said the government would closely monitor the data next week to make an assessment regarding a July deadline for easing all restrictions on celebrations and weddings.
The minister has also indicated that plans to allow quarantine-free travel for people receiving both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are also being considered as the country eases lockdown measures, in a delta version A month’s delay between spikes. Infection.
“When I’m in a position to be able to say something we will. But it’s absolutely something we’re working on and it’s something I want to see,” he told Sky News, when he Countries on the Amber List of medium-risk coronavirus countries were asked about allowing free travel options to vaccinated people.
Hancock confirmed that the government is “working on a plan to essentially bring back some of the freedoms the vaccine has had to restrict to keep people safe”.
“After all, that’s the whole purpose of the vaccination program, so it’s so important that every adult goes out and gets the jab,” he said.
He also said the main National Health Service (NHS) app would be “critical” in the future, requiring Britain to prove its immunization status before entering countries.
“Six million people have now downloaded the main NHS app and on that you can show if you have jabs,” Hancock said.
“It’s important because we know other countries are going to say they want proof that you’ve been vaccinated before you go. So, when the trip starts, we’re going to make sure Let people have the ability to prove it,” he said. .
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