Boris Johnson wants to give himself time.
While the Delta variant seems to be gaining ground across the Channel, the British Prime Minister announced on Monday to postpone by four weeks the lifting of the latest restrictions in England to fight against the coronavirus epidemic.
The English will therefore have to wait until July 19 to be able to return to an almost normal life.
"We are very concerned about the Delta variant which is spreading faster than expected in the February roadmap", which provided for a total reopening on June 21, explained the leader, who therefore prefers "to wait until July 19, to give the (health service) the extra time needed ”.
This last step should result in the end of the limitation to six indoor meetings, the authorization for pubs to serve at the bar and for theaters to operate at full capacity.
The only concession is that wedding receptions will no longer be limited to 30 guests as of June 21.
“We cannot continue (…) when there is a real possibility that the virus will surpass vaccines and that thousands more deaths will follow”, argued Boris Johnson.
Vaccination as a priority
If Johnson is worried, it is because the Delta variant, which initially appeared in India, has caused a surge of cases on English soil.
Contaminations have fallen from 2,000 to 7,000 per day and hospitalizations are starting to increase, even if the number of deaths per day remains below 10. The Delta variant, now dominant in the country, represents 96% of new cases.
Read also "A very, very worrying question": how the Delta variant became hegemonic in the United Kingdom
For England, it's a drag.
Over the spring, the European country most bereaved by the pandemic (nearly 128,000 dead) had been able to restore many freedoms previously lost, thanks to a long confinement and a very effective vaccination campaign.
The goal is now to offer by July 19 a first dose to all adults and two doses to two thirds of adults, including all over 50 and vulnerable.
Currently, almost 80% of adults have received one dose, but only 57% have received two doses.
According to studies conducted by the British health authorities, vaccines are less effective against symptomatic forms of the Delta variant than other variants with a single dose, but two doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines are more than 90% effective against hospitalizations.
