Special role in Europe: England creates almost all Corona

In England, on July 19, almost all mandatory corona measures will be lifted as planned.

British Health Minister Sajid Javid confirmed this in Parliament in London on Monday.

The prerequisites for this have been met, said Javid.

This is thanks to the efforts of the British and the vaccination program.  

It is to be expected that the number of new infections will continue to rise, but the government does not believe "that the number of infections will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS health service," said Javid.

From next week on, distance rules, mask requirements and mandatory registration, for example when going to a restaurant, will probably no longer apply.

Night clubs and discos will then be able to receive visitors again.

There should no longer be numerical restrictions for celebrating the events. 

And that although the number of new infections has been rising sharply for weeks.

However, the government argues the link between infections and hospital admissions and deaths has been

weakened enough thanks to the successful vaccination program.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously urged people to exercise caution.

Johnson said that the final milestone on the roadmap out of lockdown is temptingly close.

But the plan to restore all freedoms must be accompanied by a warning.

"Although the phenomenal vaccination campaign offers all adults some protection from the virus and the crucial link between cases and hospitalizations and deaths has been weakened, the global pandemic is not over yet," said Johnson.

"We all have to take responsibility not to jeopardize our progress and ensure that we protect our NHS (National Health Service)."

Contradicting messages

Johnson's government had recently come under increasing criticism for contradicting messages about wearing masks after the planned end of all corona measures. Several ministers had announced that they would no longer wear mouth and nose protection after the end of the mask requirement. Others had called on people to continue to voluntarily wear masks.

Warwick University infectious disease specialist Mike Tildesley told the BBC on Monday, "I think it's pretty confusing for people what the right thing to do now." He hoped enough people would weigh the risks themselves with this the number of infections does not continue to rise as sharply. The immunologist Peter Openshaw from Imperial College London also criticized the planned lifting of the mask requirement. It is not right to let the people decide for themselves, said the BBC medical professional.

In Great Britain, the number of new infections has been rising sharply for weeks. Although the government argues that the infections no longer resulted in as many hospitalizations and deaths, experts fear that a possible increase to as high as 100,000 new infections per day could put a significant strain on health services. To date, around two-thirds of adults in the UK have received the two doses of vaccine necessary for full protection. That's 34.5 million people.

Johnson announced the easing a week ago, but made it subject to a final review.

It has already been decided that from July 19, fully vaccinated people and minors residing in the United Kingdom will be allowed to enter the country without quarantine.

Tourists from Germany, for example, must continue to self-isolate for at least five days after arrival.

The easing only applies to the largest British part of the country, England, for which the British government is responsible.

The respective national governments are responsible for health policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

It will take even longer there until the last Corona regulations are lifted.

England would take on a special role in Europe through Johnson's decision. In other countries, the corona rules are being tightened again after they have been relaxed. Due to an enormous increase in the number of new infections, the Netherlands only put a number of corona measures back into force a few days ago. Clubs and discos had to close again on Saturday. For restaurants it ends at midnight. After just under two weeks, that means the temporary end of the nightlife. The delta variant of the corona virus is also causing an increase in new infections in France. President Emmanuel Macron plans to give a televised address on Monday evening. In it he could announce stricter measures again.