China News Service, July 19, according to Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao.com, the UK ushered in the so-called "Freedom Day" on July 19-from midnight on that day, the British government has cancelled most of the epidemic prevention measures in England.
In addition, since August 16, people who have completed vaccination in England, even if they are confirmed as close contacts of the new crown, do not need to self-isolate.
British Prime Minister Johnson believes that the epidemic is far from over, but the British people must learn to live with the virus and make their own judgments on how to protect themselves.
Next, the government will be more inclined to rely on the people's spontaneous self-discipline rather than legal measures to control the epidemic.
But many experts warned that the Johnson administration's decision was a "dangerous experiment."
Compared with other countries, the number of confirmed cases in the UK is still at a high level, and it is estimated that it will increase rapidly in the coming months.
The country's already overburdened medical system will also face greater pressure.
Data map: On April 12, 2021 local time, the United Kingdom entered the second phase of relaxing the epidemic lockdown measures.
Shops, barber shops, gyms, etc. are allowed to reopen, and bars and restaurants can also be opened outdoors.
Why does the British government insist on "unblocking"?
The economy needs to recover, and people are tired of epidemic prevention restrictions
Why did the UK choose to "unblock" now?
What are the considerations of the Johnson administration?
Wongso, an emergency room doctor in Yorkshire, England, said in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao that the decision of the Johnson government was mainly based on practical considerations.
The British have long been tired of various epidemic prevention restrictions, and the economy needs to recover.
Wang Suo analyzed that “the British government obviously made such a decision after analyzing big data and accepting expert opinions.” He pointed out that after the UK's vaccination plan has achieved significant results, the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to the new crown has indeed fallen sharply.
However, he also believes that it is inevitable that the number of new cases will increase after the "unblocking", but if the number of new cases and deaths increase simultaneously, the government must tighten measures again.
In addition, since the British government began to relax some of the restrictions last month, many people have no longer wear masks in public places or indoors.
All shops have been reopened, public transportation has resumed, and restaurants have resumed dine-in while reducing passenger capacity.
Data map: People dine outdoors on a food street in London.
Photo by Zhang Mengqi issued by China News Agency
"The Lancet" condemns the British government's "dangerous experiment"
Open letter of support from 4000 medical experts
Although the British Prime Minister's Office pointed out that the vaccination program will reduce hospitalizations and deaths, medical experts warn that new infections may still lead to a surge in the incidence of acute and chronic diseases.
Many British experts also published an open letter in the well-known medical journal "The Lancet", condemning the Johnson government's comprehensive "unblocking" of the English region.
Experts believe that any policy to tolerate high infection rates is "unethical and illogical" until everyone, including teenagers, has completed vaccination, and called this a "dangerous experiment."
This open letter has been signed and supported by more than 4,000 scientists, doctors and other professionals.
Stuart Wilks-Heeg, dean of the Department of Politics at the University of Liverpool, said that the “unblocking” implemented in England carries considerable risks.
Despite the rapid progress of vaccination in the UK, the spread of the new crown virus has never really stopped.
Compared with other countries, the number of diagnoses in the UK is still at a high level, and it is estimated that it will increase rapidly in the coming months.
Sieg also pointed out: "The current vaccines may not be effective against the new variant virus. The number of people seeking medical treatment due to illness may increase, putting more pressure on the already overburdened medical system."
In addition, the latest report of the British Academy of Medical Sciences warns that if the United Kingdom is simultaneously affected by the new crown virus, influenza and respiratory viruses common in children, the British medical system may reach a tipping point in the winter of 2021.
The report pointed out that the simultaneous attacks of the three viruses will cause the number of hospitalizations and deaths to double the normal level.
Data map: The picture shows the crowds on Oxford Street, the commercial center of London.
Photo by Zhang Mengqi issued by China News Agency
Is not enough vigilance and enthusiasm to fight the epidemic?
They mistake the new crown for a "distant" disease
Looking back at the UK’s anti-epidemic measures, Sieg, the director of the Department of Political Science at the University of Liverpool, also pointed out another problem, that is, in the early stage of the new crown epidemic, the UK did not actively carry out tracking and testing, or ensure that frontline medical staff have adequate protective equipment; There is no isolation test for incoming passengers.
He mentioned that the United Kingdom did not announce a complete "blockade" for the first time until March 23, 2020, and it was about two months before the country's first confirmed case appeared on January 31.
According to the report, according to Sieg’s observations, in early 2020, many people in the United Kingdom still regarded the new crown virus as a “distant disease”, thinking that it would only spread between Asian countries and would not affect distant areas. Britain in Europe.