Lockdown powers extended
British lawmakers agreed yesterday to prolong coronavirus emergency measures for six months, allowing the Conservative government to keep its unprecedented powers to restrict UK citizens' everyday lives.
The House of Commons voted to extend the powers until September, and approved the government's road map for gradually easing Britain's strict coronavirus lockdown over the next three months.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's large Conservative majority in Parliament guaranteed the measures passed by a decisive 484-76 margin. But Johnson faced rebellion from some of his own party's lawmakers, who argued the economic, democratic and human costs of the restrictions outweigh the benefits.
The Coronavirus Act, passed a year ago as Britain went into lockdown, brought in a wide range of temporary health, economic and social powers to deal with the pandemic. It gives authorities the power to bar protests, shut down businesses, restrict travel and detain
Covid passport checks could be introduced at theatres, football matches, business conferences, wedding venues and even some workplaces, understands.
People would have to show proof of getting a Covid jab, recently testing negative or having antibodies after recovering from the virus to gain admittance under the plans.
Supporters argue it would allow for social distancing rules to be relaxed sooner so big groups can gather again indoors. But it could also mean millions regularly showing parts of their medical status for everyday activities – a situation unimaginable 18 months ago.
people suspected of having the virus.
Heath Secretary Matt Hancock said Parliament had had to take “extraordinary measures in response to this extraordinary threat”.
But Conservative lawmaker Mark Harper, a leading lockdown sceptic, said he had not “heard a single good answer” as to why the British government
Ministers are understood to be looking at using the NHS Covid-19 contact tracing app, or creating a new similar version, to produce a scannable QR code showing a person is Covid-safe.
Pilot events involving the socalled “Covid status certification” checks are expected to be included in government-led trials.
Boris Johnson indicated this week he would be comfortable with landlords demanding people prove they have had a jab before serving them.
Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, told the Commons yesterday a wider definition of what proof could be offered was being considered. He backed a system of checks that
needed to extend the “draconian” powers for another six months.
The opposition Liberal Democrats opposed the extension, with leader Ed Davey saying it gave ministers “a blank check to use draconian powers they don't need”.
Former Labour
Party leader took account of “vaccine status but also of recent test status and indeed also antibody status as well”.
Tory MPS sceptical of lockdown savaged the idea of showing papers to get into a pub, with Sir Desmond Swayne likening it to “tyranny”.
Gove is leading the review into how Covid certificates could be used domestically – one of four, interlinked reviews into Covid rules – and will give an interim report in early April.
Figures involved in those talks spoke to yesterday to detail the breadth of scenarios where such checks may be allowed.
Businesses could be able to use Covid certificate checks so that people who have had the jab and then come close to someone with
Jeremy Corbyn also spoke out against them, saying “our liberties are at stake”.
Britain has recorded more than 126,000 coronavirus deaths, the highest toll in Europe. But the UK'S fastmoving vaccination programme has so far given at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to more than half of the virus will not have to self-isolate.
Builders, cleaners and electricians may also be able to show they are clear of Covid – most likely via a phone app showing their status – to reassure families and so get business.
Large music and sporting events could see such status checks mandated, though that remains undecided.
Big wedding venues could be allowed to carry out such checks so hundreds can gather again on dance floors to celebrate a marriage, which is currently barred.
reported the Curzon cinema chain is considering offering different viewings for people with Covid jabs and those who have not been vaccinated.
its adult population, a far better record than in the European Union. Virus infections and deaths in Britain have fallen sharply in the past month as they are rising in much of Europe.
Simon Stevens, chief executive of the National Health Service in England, said yesterday English hospitals were treating about 4000 coronavirus patients, down from 34,000 in mid-january. He said the health system's coronavirus alert level should be lowered from 4 to 3 on a five-point scale because the pressures on the system had eased.
The British government is gradually lifting a national lockdown. Children returned to school on March 8 and shops, hairdressers and outdoor dining are to reopen on April 12, followed by indoor venues on May 17. Remaining restrictions are to end June 21, if the country is not facing a new virus surge.
Hancock said infections were likely to rise as society opened up, but thanks to vaccines that would not automatically mean more virusrelated deaths. But he said it was still right to proceed with caution.
“We must restore the freedoms that we all cherish, but in a way that doesn't put the [National Health Service] at risk,” he said.
European Union leaders struggled yesterday to solve quarrels about the distribution of Covid-19 vaccine shots as they tried to ramp up inoculations across their 27 nations amid a shortage of doses, spikes in new cases and a feud with the United Kingdom.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz criticised the sharing of shots in the EU, saying some countries were receiving more than their fair share. As the leader of a coalition of six countries, he demanded a correction mechanism, raising tensions between capitals from where the leaders were holding their remote summit.
The EU'S 27 nations were still locked in a dispute over how an upcoming batch of 10 million doses could be allocated to narrow the vaccine gap between members.
Under the joint procurement programme set up by the European Commission, doses are allocated on a pro rata basis, but some nations are taking less than their share.
A large majority of EU members think the system is working well but said some nations made a mistake to focus on Astrazeneca shots instead of diversifying. Astrazeneca shots are cheaper and easier to handle than vaccines from Pfizerbiontech or Moderna.
Further highlighting divisions, Denmark announced yesterday it would continue its suspension of the Astrazeneca vaccine for three more weeks. Several European countries that had suspended using the vaccine over blood clot concerns resumed administering it after the EU'S drug regulator said the vaccine was safe.
The spread of more contagious virus variants has pushed hospitals in some EU countries to their limit. That, and the lack of vaccines available in Europe, has pushed several EU nations to impose strict lockdown measures over the Easter holidays.
Three months after vaccination campaigns started, Our World In Data showed only 14 per cent of the EU'S 450 million residents has had a shot, but 46 per cent in Britain.
An EU source said while the bloc had allowed 21 million vaccine doses to be exported to the UK since December 1, none had come to the EU from Britain.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had allowed exports totalling 77 million vaccine doses, proof the bloc should not be accused of vaccine nationalism.
“We can see clearly that British facilities are producing for Great Britain.
“The United States isn't exporting, and therefore we are dependent upon what can be produced in Europe,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who urged EU nations to produce more vaccines.