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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives an update on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic during a virtual press conference inside 10 Downing Street, in central London, Britain, March 18, 2021.
Tulga Akmen
Boris Johnson is expected to announce that the next phase of reopening England will be delayed by up to four weeks on Monday, amid an increase in the delta variant of Covid-19 that was first detected in India.
The rules for the use of face masks were to be lifted, the number of people who could meet inside and outside, and nightclubs and similar venues closed on June 21, but British media reports suggest that could now be postponed to late July. 19. Currently, the gathering is limited to six people indoors and 30 outdoors.
People will also be advised to continue working from home where possible, according to reports.
New figures from Public Health England show that 42,323 cases of the delta variant of coronavirus have now been confirmed across the UK, an increase of 240% from last week, while the country’s transmission rate is at its highest since January.
More than 70 million doses of the vaccine have been administered across the UK, with around 80% of the country now receiving at least one dose. But a PHE paper in late May showed that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were only 33% effective against the delta variant after a single shot.
Johnson told Sky News on Saturday he was prepared to be “cautious” to avoid any future re-implementation of the lockdown measures.
When implemented, the fourth and final phase of the government’s “road map” to exiting the lockdown will see all legal restrictions on social contact removed. The third phase on May 17 saw the reopening of indoor hospitality and entertainment venues, along with domestic stays and international travel, in accordance with the traffic light system.
The previous three phases of the roadmap, which gradually rolled back the strict nationwide lockdown measures in place from mid-December through March, went as planned.
Investors didn’t seem too concerned about the prospect of restrictions remaining in place for another month, however, with Britain’s FTSE 100 index rising nearly 0.5% late in the morning.
“Entertainment companies may be affected more than any delay in facilitating lockdown in England, as this will require a continuation of social distancing rules, which means pubs and restaurants cannot operate at full capacity,” said Ross Mold, investment director at British stockbroker AJ. Bell.
“However, investors do not appear to be too alarmed by the risks, perhaps because speculation is merely suggesting a delay of four weeks, albeit during a seasonally busy time.”
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