The British government confirmed Friday, May 14, to implement the next stage of its deconfinement plan on Monday, despite a worrying outbreak of the Indian variant in England, where an accelerated screening campaign was launched.
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In addition to this measure, shortening the interval between the two doses of vaccine (currently up to three months) or extending vaccination to younger people are also among the options being studied by the government to curb the outbreak of the B1.617.2 variant.
The number of cases in the UK climbed from 520 last week to 1,313 this week, according to the Department of Health. Most of the cases are concentrated in the North West of England such as the city of Bolton, and some in London. "
Doctors will study this to see how we can modify the vaccination campaign to make it as effective as possible in the face of this outbreak of the variant,
" Secretary of State Nadhim Zahawi told SkyNews, explaining that "
vaccinating younger cohorts
”or“
closer
”the second dose were among the options.
He cited "
concerns
" about a possible greater contagiousness of this variant but clarified that there is "
no evidence for the moment proving that it is resistant to vaccines or has more serious consequences for people
" .
Despite this outbreak of the variant closely watched by the authorities, "
we believe that the roadmap for Monday is maintained because the vaccination continues,
" said Nadhim Zahawi.
A sensitive stage of deconfinement
Monday marks a sensitive stage in deconfinement with the resumption of room service for pubs and restaurants, the reopening of cinemas and theaters.
Indoor meetings will again be authorized.
Measures implemented locally include strengthening screening and contact tracing, and increasing genome sequencing of positive cases.
"
We are monitoring the situation very closely and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary,
" Health Minister Matt Hancock said in a statement sent Thursday evening.
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Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, who is located in the affected area, objected on Friday to a possible implementation of local containments such as those applied in the fall. “
We would be very concerned if the government subjects Blackburn, Bolton, or any other place to local restrictions as the rest of the country deconfines itself. Especially when there are things they can do before that,
”Mr Burnham told the BBC, stressing that the North West of England was particularly vulnerable to containment, being one of the most vulnerable regions. poor people of the country.
