VAX TO THE FUTURE
» Final unlocking stage now July 19 after surge in cases of Delta variant » Bid to vaccinate all over-18s and double jab all over-40s by new date
BORIS Johnson last night delayed Freedom Day in a bid to get millions more vaccinated, as the Covid Delta variant surges.
The PM put off lifting curbs fully until July 19. All adults will get a first jab and all over-40s a second by then after the roll-out was speeded up.
Mr Johnson said: “We have the chance to save many thousands of lives.” But there were fears the delay will spark huge hospitality closures.
MEDICS last night welcomed the postponement of Freedom Day, amid fears opening up fully would fuel another Covid wave.
Boris Johnson confirmed he was delaying the ending of all lockdown curbs from June 21 to July 19 in a bid to get more people safely vaccinated.
But there was fury among hospitality chiefs, who fear the postponement could spell the end for businesses such as nightclubs, which will still not be able to open.
And Labour blamed the PM’s dithering over banning visitors from India for the inevitable delay, as the Delta variant from there has run riot.
Announcing the shifting of
Freedom Day, Mr Johnson told a briefing last night the Government had faced a “difficult choice” but had concluded it was sensible to wait just a little bit longer to fully unlock. He added: “We have the chance, in the next four weeks, to save many thousands of lives by vaccinating millions more people.” Health chiefs said the “cautious” move will relieve the pressure on the NHS as more people get their jabs.
Matthew Taylor of the NHS Confederation said: “Health leaders will be relieved that the PM has listened to their warnings.”
Former government chief scientist Sir Mark Walport added: “We are in the grip of the early stages of a third wave of this virus”.
The UK recorded 7,742 n e w case s yesterday, driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant. Ministers were told cases are growing at 70% week-on-week and in around a third of the country, are doubling every week. Hospital admissions are increasing by 15% week-on-week and are up by as much as 66% in parts of the North West.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth accused the Government of “incompetence and indecision”. He said: “We will support these restrictions with a heavy heart but we shouldn’t have been in this position and we’re in it because of Johnson’s failure to secure our borders.”
Limits on numbers for sports events, pubs and cinemas will now stay in place, nightclubs will be closed and people will be encouraged to keep up social distancing and working from home.
Mr Johnson insisted he was “pretty confident” July 19 would be the final day of restrictions.
But he admitted there was still a
possibility that a “far more dangerous” variant that “kills people in a way we currently cannot foresee” could yet derail plans.
The PM also announced a limited easing of restrictions from June 21 to help avert a rebellion tomorrow from Tory MPs furious over the delay.
The PM, who has just married Carrie, 33, lifted the 30-person limit on guests at weddings, receptions and wakes, with venues setting distancing rules. But no dancing will be allowed, except for the first dance.
A bride-to-be, who has postponed her wedding twice, asked the PM why testing and vaccine status could not be used to open up ceremonies as it is for football matches.
Mr Johnson said: “I’m sorry for the disappointment this will certainly bring to weddings, to many, many businesses, but it’s a few weeks that I think is worth it to get those jabs.”
Fans were expected to be able to attend the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final at Wembley as the pilots on large events continue.
And care home residents will no longer have to self-isolate for
14 days if they return from a visit, unless they have been in hospital.
The vaccines roll-out has been speeded up so all adults in England will be offered their first jab by July 19, meaning two-thirds will have been inoculated. All over-40s should also now have their second dose eight weeks, rather than 12 weeks, after their first, to give them the best possible protection. Figures released by Public Health England suggested the Pfizer jab is 96% effective against hospital admission from the Delta variant after two doses, while the Oxford/AstraZeneca is 92% effective. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has rejected business demands for an extension of the furlough scheme, despite businesses struggling. Protesters gathered outside
No10 yesterday and along Parliament Street to demonstrate against the delay to Freedom Day.
Some held banners while others chanted “shame on you” at the PM.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle criticised No10 for leaking details of the decision before making a statement to Parliament. He accused the PM of “running roughshod” over MPs by not telling them first.
Mr Hoyle said: “This House needs to know first. It’s time for me to have a meeting with the PM.” Mr Johnson had spent the day in Brussels at a NATO summit.