JAKARTA - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out a plan for the final steps of easing the UK's lockdown on Monday, including guidance on social distancing, face masks and working from home, the government said.
The UK is set to end all restrictions related to preventing the spread of COVID-19 on 19 July. A decision on this is scheduled for July 12.
Data shows that cases of COVID-19 infection have continued to rise recently as restrictions are relaxed, but links to hospitalizations and deaths have been weakened by vaccination programmes, the government said.
People will learn to live with COVID-19 as they already did with the flu, said PM Boris Johnson, meaning that hospitalizations, serious illnesses and deaths will continue but at a much lower rate than before widespread vaccination.
"Thanks to the successful launch of our vaccination programme, we are progressing cautiously through our roadmap," PM Boris Johnson said in a statement.
"But I must stress, the pandemic is not over and cases will continue to rise over the coming weeks. As we begin to learn to live with this virus, we must all continue to manage risks from COVID-19 carefully and apply judgment as we live our lives. ," he explained.
Government data shows that the UK's COVID-19 vaccination program has so far reached 86 per cent of adults with the first dose and 64 per cent with the second dose until Sunday 4 July.
However, the increase in cases of COVID-19 infection in recent times, along with the spread of the Delta variant, the last step of easing the lockdown was announced to be postponed for four weeks some time ago, so that more people are vaccinated.
Data from Public Health England show the vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization of this variant, the UK Government said.
Meanwhile, UK Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the use of face masks was no longer mandatory after the latest step in easing the lockdown
"This will be a different period where we as citizens make these judgments rather than the government telling you what to do," Jenrick told Sky News.
Asked if he would stop wearing masks if he were allowed to, he said: "I would. I don't really want to wear masks, I don't think many people enjoy doing it, we will move to a phase though where it will be a matter of personal choice."
Regarding the development of data on handling the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenrick said it was very positive.
"It looks like we can now move forward and shift to a much more permissive regime, where we move away from many of the lockdowns that have been so difficult for us," Jenrick said.
"We have to make sure that every adult gets double-vaccinated, because that is key to keeping the virus under control as we enter the fall and winter."
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