A cabinet minister said on Sunday that the use of face masks as protection against the coronavirus will become a matter of “personal choice”, as the UK lifts legal lockdown measures later this month.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said a move towards greater “personal responsibility” would be made as the UK prepares to end lockdown restrictions from 19 July.
His remarks came after several UK media reports on Sunday indicated that Prime Minister Boris Johnson Is preparing to announce an end to mandatory face masks and other measures during the next week.
“It seems that – thanks to the success of the vaccine program – that we now have room to lift those restrictions and return to normalcy,” Jenrick told the BBC.
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“We have to move into a different period now where we learn to live with the virus, we take precautions and we take personal responsibility,” he said.
Asked whether the need to wear a face mask in certain settings will definitely be eliminated, he said: “I can’t make that commitment this morning because the prime minister will make an announcement in the coming days – it looks like the data Whether I am in the right place or not.”
In an interview to Sky News, the cabinet minister said that like many people, he also wants to get rid of the restrictions as soon as possible.
He added: “We don’t want them to stay in one place for more than a day. We’re now going into a period where there won’t be legal restrictions – the state won’t tell you what to do – but you can do something.” Will like to take personal responsibility and decision to an extent.
“For example, different people will come to different conclusions on things like masks.”
The comments come a day after the British Medical Association (BMA) called on the government to implement some lockdown measures, such as the mandatory use of face masks in enclosed spaces, beyond the July 19 deadline.
“Since the number of cases is increasing at an alarming rate due to the rapid transmission and mixing of the delta variant, there is no point in removing restrictions completely in just two weeks’ time,” warned . Dr. Chand Nagpaul, BMA Council Chair.
However, there are signs the British prime minister is keen to move towards so-called “Independence Day” with the end of several restrictive measures, including the requirement to scan a QR code when entering bars, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms is. , museum or other place.
According to ‘The Sunday Times’, at a press conference next week, Boris Johnson is expected to announce plans to drop social distancing rules and reject proposals for one. Domestic COVID-19 Passport.
“We believe now is the time for the public to start learning to live with COVID,” a Downing Street source said.
“All data and scientific modeling suggest that lifting restrictions will lead to an increase in cases but – with the continued success of vaccine rollouts and the breakdown of the link between hospitalizations and deaths – we believe there will be no risk.” This is putting significant additional pressure on the NHS,” the source said.
The UK recorded 24,885 cases of coronavirus and 18 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday.
According to data from the National Health Service (NHS), more than 33 million people in the UK have now received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and more than 85 percent of adults have been vaccinated with the first dose.
“This is an unprecedented achievement with 45 million adults now receiving their first dose. Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic and we know they are breaking the link between cases and hospitalizations, 27,000 More than 7.2 million lives have been saved and 7.2 million infections have been prevented in England alone so far,” said Sajid Javid, who took over as the UK’s new health secretary last week following the resignation of Matt Hancock.
“Every adult is now eligible for vaccines – please accept this offer as soon as possible to protect yourself and your loved ones,” Vaccine Minister Nadim Zahvi said.
The NHS reiterated its message that vaccinated people are much less likely to have COVID-19 with symptoms and even more likely to have severe COVID-19, to be hospitalized. Or it is not more likely to die from it.
There is also increasing evidence that they are less likely to transmit the virus to others.