Nightclubs elated but doubts cloud England’s ‘Freedom Day’

LONDON — Sparkling wine, confetti, a midnight countdown: It’s not New Year’s Eve, but it might as well be for England’s clubbers. After 17 months of empty dance floors, the country’s nightclubs are reopening with a bang.

Beginning Monday, face masks will no longer be legally required and, with social distancing rules shelved, there will be no more limits on people attending theatre performances or big events.

Public health officials fear the celebrations could trigger a major hangover, as more social mixing drives up Britain’s already-surging coronavirus infection rates.

From London to Liverpool, thousands of young people plan to dance the night away at “Freedom Day” parties after midnight Sunday, when almost all coronavirus restrictions in England are to be scrapped. Nightclubs, which have been shuttered since March 2020, can finally reopen.

London nightclub The Piano Works plans to kick off its “Freedom Day” bash Sunday with a countdown to midnight, when staff members plan to cut a ribbon to the dance floor and serve customers free Prosecco.

“I think it is going to be the most magical moment, when you’ve got people who haven’t been able to dance and sing and just be normal, all rush onto the floor at midnight and get back to what we love,” said Daisy Robb, the club’s head of sales.

More than 54,000 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed Saturday, the highest daily number since January, though reported virus deaths have stayed comparatively low so far.