In just over a week, England was scheduled to remove all restrictions imposed to control the corona pandemic.
There is now great uncertainty about what Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce at the planned press conference on Monday night.
The reason is a sharp increase in the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
Several British media, among others The Times and BBC reports that the government is considering postponing the full reopening by up to four weeks.
On Saturday, Boris Johnson himself spoke, and would not promise a full reopening on June 21, as he has previously done.
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Fear increase in admissions
The government has recently been under pressure to postpone the planned reopening date. Several health leaders have, among other things, warned of a potential wave of new hospital admissions.
British health authorities believes that the delta variant (Indian mutation) is between 30 and 70 percent more contagious than the alpha variant (British mutation), and that people infected with the former may have a 2.61 times higher risk of hospitalization.
The latest official figures show according to BBC close to 30,000 new registered infected with the delta variant last week. This now accounts for 90 per cent of cases of infection.
Facing the channel, Vaccine Minister Nadim Zahawi says the government knows they must be careful to avoid “the war they have fought against the virus being in vain”.
– We know that the virus is not gone, and that it will try to mutate. The Delta variant is more contagious and more serious for those affected. So, we have to be careful.
According to Sky News, referring to anonymous sources, it is expected that the Prime Minister will want to facilitate some measures for certain events.
Distance rules, reopening of nightclubs and other cultural events should, however, hang in the balance in light of the latest developments.
As it often takes some time from proven infection to the need for treatment at a hospital, the health service has not yet noticed the effect of the recent increase in infection.
All media point out that no decisions have yet been made about any relief.
Johnson himself confirmed this on Saturday.
“Worrying”
In a interview with Sky News Johnson says that the spread of the Delta variant is worrying, but at the same time warns against comparing the spread the UK is now experiencing, with the previous waves of infection.
– What we are witnessing is definitely an increase in the number of cases, and we are seeing an increase in the number of admissions. But the context has changed radically only because of the large number of people who have been vaccinated, and in particular the elderly and those at risk.
He will not promise full reopening, according to plan, but says the UK is unlikely to reintroduce previous measures.
– What I can say is that the researchers agree on one thing – they do not think there is any reason to go back, Johnson says.
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