Despite the Delta variant, Boris Johnson has ushered in the end of all corona measures in England.
Health Minister Javid speaks of a "protective wall" through the vaccination - the criticism is still great.
London - Despite the sharp rise in new infections, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to end all corona measures in England soon.
From July 19 onwards, distance rules and mask requirements will no longer apply, as will the home office, pubs no longer have to be served exclusively at the table, nightclubs are allowed to reopen, there are no more space restrictions at events, and there is no vaccination or entry requirement Proof of test required. Johnson emphasized in London, however, that the binding decision would be made after a further review of the pandemic data next Monday (July 12).
His health minister defended the planned elimination of all corona measures - despite the number of infections rising again.
"We are very satisfied with the announced decisions," said Sajid Javid the broadcaster Sky News.
He admitted that the number of new infections will increase because of the easing planned for July 19.
But vaccine use has weakened the link between infection and hospital admissions and deaths.
"Can't just always be about Corona"
"The vaccines are working, they are our protective wall," said Javid. "We have to learn to live with the virus." Javid said it was time to focus more on other health problems. Millions of people did not turn to the National Health Service (NHS) with their concerns during the pandemic. This must also be a priority. "It can't just always be about Corona," said Javid.
Johnson had announced a "cautious but irrevocable" way out of the corona regulations months ago.
The final stage was planned for June 21, but Johnson had postponed it for four weeks because of the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.
In view of a successful vaccination program, the prime minister now sees the conditions for the last step fulfilled - despite criticism from science, trade unions and politics.
However, contrary to what was expected, the prime minister was not as enthusiastic.
“I don't want people to feel that this is the moment we demobilize, that this is the end of Covid.
We are still very far from the end, ”he said - adding that a new variant against which no vaccine is effective could require new protective measures.
Gastronomy and the event industry welcomed the announcement enthusiastically.
In parliament, where Health Minister Javid informed MPs about the plans at the same time, some members of Johnson's Conservative Party burst into jubilation.
Delta is increasing the number of cases
In Great Britain, the number of infections has been rising sharply for weeks, and the authorities reported 27,334 new cases on Monday.
The seven-day incidence, i.e. the number of new infections per 100,000 people within a week, was last given as 229.9 (as of June 30).
The reason for this is the highly contagious Delta variant, which now accounts for almost all cases in Great Britain.
For comparison: In Germany this value is 5.
At the same time, the number of deaths with 128 Covid deaths within a week is currently still at a relatively low level. Hospital admissions have not increased to the same extent as the number of infections. 86 percent of adults in the UK are now vaccinated at least once. Almost two thirds (64 percent) of those over the age of 18 already have both vaccinations.
Johnson expects 50,000 new corona cases a day soon.
But the vaccines have weakened the link between new infections and deaths and hospital admissions.
"We have to be honest: if we can't reopen society in the coming weeks (...), when else will we be able to get back to normal life?" Said Johnson.
He referred to good conditions with warm summer weather and the school holidays.
Experts are calling for the mask requirement to be retained
The decision had already been criticized in advance.
Scientists and trade unionists called for the mask requirement to be retained as the simplest means of warding off viruses in local public transport and in shops.
In a survey by the Yougov opinion research institute, a good two thirds of those questioned were in favor.
Critical voices also came from representatives of the chronically underfunded health service NHS, which celebrated the 73rd anniversary of its establishment on Monday.
The head of the British Medical Association (BMA), Chaand Nagpaul, told the BBC that it is incomprehensible that "people knowingly exposed to an infection risk" in a time of high infection rates.
dpa