Dr Sarah Jarvis: Some restrictions should remain after July 19
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Boris Johnson has busily drummed up excitement for July 19, the Government’s “Freedom Day”, recently, with upbeat public addresses. Impatient Brits living in England had the occasion suspended last month amid growing infection rates, which have only grown. The present situation could complicate the target date, which remains unchanged, and the Prime Minister has teased as such.
What extra precautions do people need to follow?
The Government recently recommitted to July 19 with Mr Johnson teasing the country could “go back to life as it was before COVID as far as possible”.
Newly minted Health Secretary Sajid Javid did the same, telling MPs in the House of Commons he saw “no reason” to suspend the date again.
He added: “July 19 remains our target date. The prime minister has called it our terminus date.
“For me, July 19 is not only the end of the line but the start of an exciting new journey for our country.”
England will end up closer to pre-Covid life, but it may not be identical to pre-March 2020.
Speaking from a visit to a Nissan plant in Sunderland, he told reporters he “understood” people’s impatience.
But he didn’t commit to zero-restriction life, saying instead he would “set out” how post-July 19 life would look.
He said: “I think I’ve said it before, we’ll be wanting to go back to a world that is as close to the status quo, ante-Covid, as possible.
“Try to get back to life as close to it was before Covid.
“But there may be some things we have to do, extra precautions that we have to take, but I’ll be setting them out.”
Although they didn’t reveal potential restrictions, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the Government would lift “as many restrictions as it’s safe to do so”.
The remaining restrictions in the UK include social distancing, mandated mask-wearing inside shops and some closed venues such as clubs.
Messaging for hand washing, ventilation, and more could persist until the caseload dwindles.
And the Government is expected to continue to emphasize testing, tracing and isolation.
As such, people could still need to stay put after receiving a Covid test following Freedom Day.
People may also continue to face travel restrictions, with another travel list decision due after July 19.
The Government last updated its selection on June 24 to add a few countries to the dozen-strong “green” list.
Several nations also hang on the green watchlist, meaning they may end up shifting to the more restrictive amber list next month.
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Ministers will likely keep travel restrictions in place for countries with high Covid infection rates.
According to the Times, Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, has quietly predicted the need to continue mask-wearing.
But their use likely won’t require them to be as constant a presence as they are now.
The Times reported Professor Whitty suggested people may still need masks in enclosed spaces.
Covid cases in the UK are high and rising, impacted by the highly virulent Delta variant.
The Government reported a further 26,706 infections yesterday, the highest rise since February this year.
The seven-day average is at 22,186, but deaths remain consistently low.
Although growing, they remain thousands of times fewer than the infection rate.
A total of 27 people died yesterday, with a seven-day average of 18.
Nevertheless, scientists have warned the situation will only worsen if no restrictions exist to keep them at bay.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA), warned against eliminating all measures on July 19.
He said it makes “no sense” to remove restrictions “in their entirety” if case numbers rise “at an alarming rate”.
Dr Nagpaul added ministers must not now “simply disregard” the latest figures by “rushing into meeting their new July 19 deadline.”
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