England s freedom day marred by soaring cases and isolation chaos
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Last Updated: Jul 20, 2021, 08:07 AM IST
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Synopsis
Johnson s bet that he can get one of Europe s largest economies firing again because so many people are now vaccinated marks a new chapter in the global response to the coronavirus.
Reuters
Prime Minister Boris Johnson s freedom day ending over a year of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in England was marred on Monday by surging infections, warnings of supermarket shortages and his own forced self-isolation. Johnson s bet that he can get one of Europe s largest economies firing again because so many people are now vaccinated marks a new chapter in the global response to the coronavirus.
I want to dance : London clubbers cheer end of COVID restrictions
FILE PHOTO: Demonstrators gather at Piccadilly Circus calling for nightclubs to reopen during a Save Our Scene protest, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in London, Britain June 27, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls reuters tickers
This content was published on July 19, 2021 - 02:01
July 19, 2021 - 02:01 (Adds dropped I in final paragraph)
By Guy Faulconbridge and Natalie Thomas
LONDON (Reuters) - London clubbers on Monday flocked to one of the first rule-free live music events since the pandemic began last year, dancing through the night and rejoicing in human interaction as England lifted most COVID restrictions at midnight.
LONDON (REUTERS) - London clubbers on Monday (July 19) flocked to one of the first rule-free live music events since the pandemic began last year, dancing through the night and rejoicing in human interaction as England lifted most Covid-19 restrictions at midnight.
Britain, which has one of the world s highest death tolls from Covid-19, is facing a new wave of cases, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson is lifting most restrictions in England in what some have dubbed Freedom Day .
Epidemiologists are generally sceptical that lifting restrictions is the right thing to do, but many young British people have had enough of more than one-and-a-half years of lockdowns and crave a party.
REFILE- I want to dance : London clubbers cheer end of COVID restrictions Reuters 5 hrs ago
(Adds dropped I in final paragraph)
By Guy Faulconbridge and Natalie Thomas
LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) - London clubbers on Monday flocked to one of the first rule-free live music events since the pandemic began last year, dancing through the night and rejoicing in human interaction as England lifted most COVID restrictions at midnight.
Britain, which has one of the world s highest death tolls from COVID, is facing a new wave of cases, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson is lifting most restrictions in England in what some have dubbed Freedom Day.
The British government has lifted all pandemic restrictions in England – including rules on mask wearing and social distancing – despite scientists’ warnings that the move will further drive an already surging pandemic and risk creating new variants.
The curbs were lifted at midnight (23:00 GMT) on Sunday as laws mandating face masks and working form home were scrapped. The lifting of the rules means nightclubs were also able to reopen for the first time since the UK first went into lockdown in March last year. Other indoor venues such as theatres and cinemas will also be able to operate at full capacity.