The end of lockdown: exactly how much freedom will we have? Robin McKie, Science Editor
On 21 June England is scheduled to be released from the final curtailments of national lockdown, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland planning to follow a similar timetable. It remains to be seen just how quickly life returns to the normality of pre-pandemic days, however. Most scientists and health experts caution that the coming summer will still have to be spent under the shadow of some social restrictions.
Masks
Mask-wearing should continue for several more months, if not longer, say experts. “We’d like to keep infection numbers as low as possible this summer to maximise our chances of keeping life close to normal over the much more uncertain winter,” said Professor Rowland Kao of Edinburgh University. “Some continued restrictions would therefore seem wise. This may include keeping down the number of people spending prolonged periods in one place, such as rest
UK s Covid deaths fall by nearly two thirds in a week with 15 fatalities as cases stay flat at 2,381 - while separate data shows just one in 1,000 people in England now have Covid and R rate is still below 1
Britain s daily deaths have fallen by nearly two thirds in a week as health chiefs recorded 15 fatalities today
Department of Health also posted another 2,381 cases - last Friday there were 2,678 infections and 40 deaths
Weekly testing survey estimates number of people with virus last week was down from 90,000 a week earlier
There is now overwhelming evidence that Covid cases and deaths have been all but stamped out in the UK
U.K. Considering Closing Border Completely a Year Since Pandemic Began
On 1/22/21 at 12:57 PM EST
Britain has not yet entirely shut its borders to new arrivals to stop the spread of COVID-19 but the option isn t being ruled out, a U.K. government minister has said.
It has been speculated that the country could become completely shut off after tightening requirements for travelers to stop the spread of the virus into the U.K., which already has one of the worst death tolls in the world. More than 94,000 people have so far died within 28 days of a positive test. We always keep these things under review and it s been considered, Eustice told Sky News. There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains there are, concern that there s a risk that one day there will be a strain that might be able to evade the vaccine. He later toned down his position, telling LBC radio: We don t think it s right at the moment to close it down altogether and close the border. Brit