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Will We Be on Lockdown Again

Ditulis Jumat, 18 Maret 2022 Tulis Komentar Edit
  • Coronavirus

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    • Volition nosotros go dorsum into lockdown once again this twelvemonth? It may be a new year but business concern effectually the new Omicron variant and its high transmissibility has many people wondering most farther measures in 2022.

    Despite emerging symptoms of Omicron only before the festive period, Prime Government minister Boris Johnson confirmed that there wouldn't exist whatsoever restrictions over Christmas – fifty-fifty going and so far as to say that Christmas parties weren't cancelled. Information technology was a determination that meant a repeat of 2020'due south final-minute celebration cancellation, when the PM introduced new measures on Dec 19, could be avoided.

    Following this, the pandemic reached new heights in the UK as almost 219,000 people tested positive on January 4, according to the Uk Health Security Bureau. But with cases now appearing to be levelling off, will the prime number minister be putting the state back into lockdown?

    Will we become dorsum into lockdown this year?

    While nosotros're withal in the early on days of 2022, the prime minister has confirmed that England won't become back into lockdown for the time being.

    Speaking during a contempo visit to a vaccination centre, Boris Johnson said that the country was in a "much improve position" than final year cheers to the vaccines.

    However, post-obit the fasten in Omicron cases over Christmas and New Twelvemonth, he besides warned information technology would be "folly" to think the pandemic was over and said that pressure on hospitals would be "considerable" in the upcoming weeks. For this reason, he kept Program B restrictions in place following a review on January 5.

    Now at the end of Jan, the Plan B restrictions are reaching their expiry engagement. If the PM wanted to continue with the measures, which include face masks in all public spaces and working from abode guidance, he would take to pass them through Parliament again.

    People gathering at Waterloo Station, now it's been confirmed that we are not going back into lockdown

    Programme A guidance includes allowances for going back into the office, Credit: Getty

    Boris Johnson has appear that he volition not be standing the restrictions and will embark with Plan A from January 20. This suggests above all that there is no plan to put England back into lockdown at the moment.

    Moving from Plan B to Plan A measures includes:

    • An terminate to the work from home rule in the UK – with communication that people speak to their employer about returning to the role.
    • Pupils don't have to clothing face masks in the classroom
    • People can stop wearing face masks in indoor public spaces
    • An cease to mandatory Covid passes for some venues in England
    • Easing of care abode restrictions

    It comes as the most recent data shows the number of people with Covid-19 has fallen in England significantly since the first of the Omicron wave. According to the Part for National Statistics (ONS), around 3.v million people in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland tested positive for coronavirus in the week catastrophe January 15. While withal significant, this is much less than the 4.3 meg who tested positive the week earlier.

    This now works out to be roughly 1 in twenty people infected with the virus or an estimated v.3% of the population.

    Boris Johnson has previously warned, even so, that people should exist "sensible" nearly their social interactions and take a lateral menstruum exam before meeting people they don't normally see. This is especially of import, health experts suggest, as the symptoms of Omicron resemble more of a mutual common cold than previous strains. He besides added that getting a get-go, second or a booster jab was imperative to stay safe.

    "We've got to remain cautious, we've got to stick with program B, nosotros've got to become additional," the prime government minister said.

    While many believed we were set for another Covid-themed Christmas, with restrictions limiting gatherings of family and friends, the prime government minister opted for a "normality" of sorts with Plan B.

    "The situation remains extremely difficult, but I likewise recognise that people accept been waiting to hear about whether their Christmas plans, your Christmas plans, are going to be affected," he said at the time.

    "What I tin say tonight is that naturally we can't rule out any further measures later on Christmas, and we're going to continue a constant middle on the date – we will do whatever it takes to protect public health.

    "Merely, in the view of the continuing dubiousness nearly several things – the severity of Omicron, the uncertainty about the hospitalisation rates or the touch of the vaccine rollout and the boosters – we don't think today that there is enough evidence to justify any tougher measures before Christmas."

    This annunciation came just days before the Wellness Security Agency (UKHSA) announced that the rules on when y'all can come up out of Covid isolation accept changed in England. Those who tested negative on twenty-four hours half dozen and 7 of their quarantine didn't take to isolate for the full 10 days. This has now, at the time of writing, been reduced to five days in isolation following a negative test on day v and vi.

    Both the health secretary and the prime minister take encouraged people to accept up their booster jab when it is available to them, maxim it was "more vital than ever". The jab is now available to anyone over 16 years former, post-obit updated guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI).

    Health officials have likewise urged people to continue taking tests for the virus, which are now available again after a temporary shortage in Dec. Lateral menses tests can be fake positive, however, this is highly unlikely to be the case according to new enquiry. And so, anyone without symptoms should also utilise these to exam where possible.

    The modify in the rules came effectually the same fourth dimension that reports emerged of gatherings taking place at 10 Downing Street over lockdown. At present being investigated past Sue Gray, who is a senior civil retainer, the inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

    But while it looks like England won't exist going back into lockdown at the moment, experts accept wanted that a tighter clampdown could exist on the way if people don't have to the measures.

    Professor Greg Towers, Sectionalisation of Infection and Immunity at University Higher London, said that if people care for the pandemic like "information technology's all over" and so there will be higher infection rates – and more than chance of a lockdown.

    He told Times Radio, "If we don't vesture masks and if we ignore social distancing rules, and if we pretend it's all over, then what's going to happen is we'll become another big wave of infection and we'll get put into lockdown again. So, if nosotros don't want lockdown, nosotros've got to try and finish the spread by easier means like mask-wearing and social distancing."

    Programme A and B were appear earlier in the summer past the authorities as the way the country would handle Covid-xix in the winter.

    Programme A prevented the NHS from experiencing serious pressure through vaccines for more age groups and more testing. As part of the plan, Track and Trace continued and the regime encouraged businesses to consider using the NHS Covid Laissez passer to bank check whether customers had a double vaccination.

    Two people walking down the road wearing a face mask in England as we may go back into lockdown again

    Credit: Getty

    Plan B was put into place by officials as they believed the NHS was coming nether "unsustainable pressure" due to the Omicron variant over wintertime concluding year.

    Before in October, following a rise to upwards to forty,000 cases for eight days in a row, doctors from The British Medical Association said ministers should begin their Program B. They also defendant the government of being "wilfully negligent" for refusing to reimpose Covid rules, such as compulsory face masks, before this date.

    Yet, Wellness Minister Edward Argar said at the time that the NHS was not under the "unsustainable pressure" required to justify new restrictions. "We know how those numbers can ascent swiftly, which is why nosotros're looking at that twenty-four hour period by day, hour by hour," he said. "Merely at the moment we do accept the ability to manage."

    On announcing the end of lockdown earlier this yr, Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested that when the measures did lift, it would exist "irreversible". Merely there would also be "trade offs" involved.

    He said, "We can begin safely to restart our lives and practise it with confidence. But I desire to be frank well-nigh exactly what that means and the trade-offs involved. The vaccines reduce the danger of Covid: they save lives and they keep people out of hospital.

    "Simply no vaccine against any disease has ever been 100 per cent effective," he continued. "So whenever we ease the lockdown, whether it is today or in 6 or ix months, nosotros've got to be realistic and have that at that place will be more than infections, more hospitalisations and therefore – sadly – more deaths, just equally at that place are every year with flu. Even if we sustained the lockdown indefinitely, which would itself cost lives and do immeasurable harm to our children, nosotros would not be able to eradicate this illness."

    "And that is why information technology is and so crucial that this roadmap should be cautious but likewise irreversible. We are setting out on what I promise and believe is a one way road to freedom."

    Even when the regime delayed the end of lockdown on June 21 2021 by four weeks, the message stayed the same. The prime minister continued to stress that England's arroyo was "cautious but irreversible". He likewise repeatedly referred to July 19 as the "terminus engagement" for restrictions. Following this, the public dubbed July 19 equally "Freedom Day".

    Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said before in the summer that in that location would exist no farther lockdowns afterwards July xix. He told news outlets that he wanted the restrictions to elevator "equally quickly as possible". He added it was "going to exist irreversible, in that location'due south no going back. That's why we want to exist careful during that procedure."

    On July 5, however, the PM did reveal that the regime would proceed some "contingency measures" in identify. These would be "to help manage the virus during higher adventure periods, such as the winter".

    He said, "We volition place accent on strengthened guidance and do everything possible to avoid reimposing restrictions with all the costs that they bring."

    Announcing plans for how the state would "live with Covid", the government said that they intended to:

    • Reduce the vaccine dose interval for under 40s from 12 weeks to eight
    • Move abroad from legal restrictions to allow people to make their own decisions about managing the virus
    • Go along with a "proportionate" test, trace and isolate system
    • Maintain tough border controls (with the requirement to show a double vaccination before travel)

    In late July, experts were however cautioning the public that the situation could worsen in the winter. They didn't ostend whether we will go back into lockdown this year but said that if cases practice rising essentially, the authorities may have no option but to enforce restrictions.

    Is Scotland going dorsum into lockdown?

    No, the virtually recent restrictions in Scotland came to an end on January 17 2022.

    Previously, only 100 people could nourish indoor standing events, with upward to 200 people at indoor seated events and up to 500 people – either seated or standing – at outdoor events. This restriction is no longer in place in Scotland as of January 17.

    Then from Jan 24, all rules on indoor events and venues will exist lifted – including the need for table service in hospitality locations. Nightclubs will also exist able to open from this date.

    The modify to the rules earlier the new year meant that various larger scale Hogmanay events were cancelled.

    Offset Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that over the offset week of January, anybody should "stay at habitation right now more normal" and reduce social contact with people from exterior of their household.

    "The new protective measures relating to hospitality, public indoor places and live events that I set out last week are at present in force," she said.

    "We will review these on an ongoing basis – still, at this stage, our expectation is that they will exist in force until 17 Jan.

    Some social distancing measures were also re-introduced before Christmas, with Deputy First Minister John Swinney urging people to accept "the greatest of care" when mixing households.

    This included the guidance to merely mix in groups of upward to three households at a fourth dimension and social distancing measures for shops and hospitality venues.

    "Nosotros hope that we take washed plenty in the announcements that were fabricated yesterday and nosotros hope that members of the public and businesses will work with united states of america in a cooperative spirit to make sure that we can take these provisions frontwards," Mr Swinney told Good Morning Scotland at the time.

    Nicola Sturgeon had previously warned that she was prepared to enforce Covid restrictions in Scotland where necessary.

    Speaking virtually the new restrictions, she said,  "Fifty-fifty if you lot feel angry with a politico just now, please remember just how of import compliance is for the health and safety of y'all, your loved ones and the country."

    Scotland was also the first to float the idea of a circuit breaker lockdown over the end of the summer. It was a potential choice to stem the rise in cases before kids went back to school for the new year's day. However, it didn't happen and Scotland take retained their Level Zero Covid status since restrictions were lifted in Baronial.

    However, the FM used the SNP Briefing in Nov – which occurred just hours after the diagnosis of the Omicron variant in Scotland – to double downwardly on the fight against the virus.

    "In recent weeks, we take had much in Scotland to feel thankful for. Compared to many countries across Europe, Covid cases here have been stable – indeed they have been declining slightly. To be frank, that'due south a much better position that I had dared hope for a couple of months ago."

    Only she said, "In that location are big and very real challenges ahead over the winter months. Cases are rising in countries all around the states. We know that colder conditions, forcing united states of america indoors, coupled with festive socialising will create increased opportunities for the virus to spread. And, nearly seriously of all, the Omicron variant is causing profound business organisation here and beyond the world.

    "So nosotros must not drop our guard. This is a fourth dimension to be more vigilant, not less."

    Ms Sturgeon said that a number of countries had been added to Scotland's travel red list and anyone arriving from these places must now become into a managed quarantine facility. Travellers also have to isolate until they get a negative result from the PCR test that they do on day 2 of their arrival, regardless of where they've come from.

    "We are also asking shut contact of any confirmed cases of Omicron to isolate," she said, " That none of this was even contemplated only a few days agone, is a reminder of how fast this virus can move and modify. Nosotros must, all of us, therefore redouble our efforts to stop information technology in its tracks."

    However, other ministers have previously noted that there would exist issues with financially supporting another lockdown in Scotland. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes claimed before this year that the country doesn't accept the money for farther intense restrictions and would simply exist able to enforce them if the Great britain government was willing to fund a complete shutdown.

    Ms Forbes said that there wouldn't be any money available for furlough if Scotland was forced to get into lockdown once again, leaving people unable to work without financial aid.

    Speaking a Holyrood'south Finance Commission, she said, "Ane of the biggest challenges right now from a financial perspective is the fact that there hasn't been that much additional consequential funding from the Uk Regime in the concluding few months.

    "Correct now we are trying to remobilise the health service, remobilise the justice organisation, remobilise a whole host of different public services, besides every bit bargain with the ongoing covid impact from a upkeep that has non been supplemented by additional consequentials coming from the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland Government in the way that information technology was last year.

    "That's not what we're discussing at the moment. We're talking nearly trying to maximise the affect of the baseline measures. But if we were to, then we have no certainty that furlough volition exist in place. We take no certainty that cocky employed income back up volition be in place. And I have no certainty that there volition be any additional funding in place.

    She added, "I am not sitting on funds right now that I could deploy to support businesses. We would demand additional help from the UK Government."

    Is Wales going back into lockdown?

    Commencement Minister Marker Drakeford warned that some of the scrapped Covid-19 restrictions could come back and similarly to Scotland, enforced new measures before Christmas.

    However, Mr Drakeford has now set out a plan for Wales to return to alert level zip on January 28 if cases continue to fall as they are.

    The measures, put into place on Boxing Day 2021, included advice to limit social contact with others exterior of the household – specially if seeing older or more vulnerable people. There were too changes so it is an offence to not work from home if you're able to. Only groups of upwardly to vi people are immune to get together in hospitality venues with the requirement for table service, compulsory face masks and contact tracing in place.

    Nightclubs also closed from Dec 27.

    Anyone going to the cinema, theatre, or a concert in Wales from November 15 has to prove a double vaccination with a Covid laissez passer. Pubs, cafes and restaurants also may require the passes equally well.

    Volition Northern Ireland have another lockdown?

    Northern Ireland has had ane of the slower journeys out of lockdown in the Great britain. After just reopening nightclubs on October 31, executive ministers have reinforced some restrictions.

    These included closing nightclubs again on Dec 26 and banning all indoor standing events. There also also now restrictions on hospitality venues and pubs, cafes and restaurants must provide tabular array service just. Similar to Wales, only 6 people are allowed to sit together at a table – but this rule does non permit to hymeneals celebrations.

    Proof of a double Covid vaccine is as well required to proceeds access to some hospitality premises and indoor settings. Just this rule has been in identify in Northern Ireland since December 13.

    In mid-November 2021, infection rates in Northern Republic of ireland were the highest in the UK – above Wales.

    While working from habitation is not compulsory in England, Wellness Minister Robin Swann said he believes anyone in Northern Ireland who was working from abode during the height of the pandemic last year should do so again.

    The rules on face masks were never dropped in Northern Republic of ireland either. They remain mandatory on public transport, in shops and in all indoor attractions unless you are exempt.

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    Source: https://www.goodto.com/family/family-news/will-we-go-back-into-lockdown-this-year-595165

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