A Spike In Delta Variant Infections, The End Of COVID-19 Restrictions In UK Could Potentially Be Postponed

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Fars News Agency/Mohsen Atayi)

JAKARTA - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to announce the final postponement of COVID-19 restrictions, following concerns over a spike in cases of infection with the Delta variant.

Under the roadmap outlined by PM Johnson in February, the government signaled all social restrictions imposed to control the spread of the disease would be lifted on June 21, when pubs, clubs, and other hospitality establishments could fully reopen.

However, in recent weeks there has been another rapid growth in the number of new cases caused by the Delta variant. The variant, which was first discovered in India, is believed by health officials to be 60 percent more infectious, while scientists have warned of a possible third wave of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson himself declined to be named as denying suggestions of delaying the end of the restrictions by a month, citing serious concerns in recent days about rising infections and hospitalizations.

"We continue to look at the data, no final decision has been taken and the time is right to tell everyone what we are going to do. June 21 is tomorrow," Johnson said on the sidelines of a G7 summit on Sunday. , as reported by Reuters Monday, June 14.

"That's when we will put out the whole package of information so that everyone can see it together," continued the prime minister, who just got married.

On Sunday, the UK recorded 7,490 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths, with the number of new infections an almost 50 percent increase between 7 and 13 June compared to the previous week, while hospitalizations rose 15 percent between 2 and 8 June compared to seven. the previous day.

The UK government stresses that any easing of restrictions is irreversible, meaning it will always act with caution. Meanwhile, doubts are brewing despite the UK having one of the fastest COVID-19 vaccination programs in the world, with more than 41 million people have had their first shot. Nearly 30 million received both doses - about 56 percent of the adult population.

Separately, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said a critical issue was data on the link between virus transmission and hospitalization.

"We know we've made great progress and weakened the link between transmission and hospitalization and of course those who are seriously ill. The question is have we broken it off?" he told BBC TV yesterday.