2021-05-17 13:35:56 GMT2021-05-17 21:35:56(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) The lockdown further eased on Monday across Britain despite concerns over risks posed by coronavirus variants, especially the one first detected in India.
From Monday, pubs, bars and restaurants in England are permitted to open indoors, while indoor entertainment resumed, including cinemas, museums and children s play areas.
Millions in England are allowed to meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people, and meet indoors in groups of up to six or as two households.
Meanwhile, all remaining accommodation including hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen from Monday.
HEALTH experts called over the weekend for ministers to review the easing of lockdown restrictions as concerns grew over the highly transmissible Covid-19 variant first identified in India.
The government came under fire for delaying tighter travel restrictions from the subcontinent as scientists expressed fear that the variant was 50 per cent more transmissible than the so-called Kent strain.
Unions called for the health of front-line workers to be protected and for adequate sick pay to be guaranteed for all to ensure that those who need to quarantine can do so.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) warned that easing restrictions as planned from today could “lead to a substantial resurgence of hospitalisations” that was “similar to, or larger than, previous peaks,” if it was confirmed that the new variant was that much more transmissible.
Roundup: Lockdown further eases in UK amid coronavirus variant risks
Xinhua
17 May 2021, 23:55 GMT+10
LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) The lockdown further eased on Monday across Britain despite concerns over risks posed by coronavirus variants, especially the one first detected in India. From Monday, pubs, bars and restaurants in England are permitted to open indoors, while indoor entertainment resumed, including cinemas, museums and children s play areas. Millions in England are allowed to meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people, and meet indoors in groups of up to six or as two households. Meanwhile, all remaining accommodation including hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen from Monday.
Covid variant first found in India can spread like wildfire among unvaccinated people Tuesday, May 18, 2021 IWK Bureau
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that the coronavirus variant first detected in India can spread like wildfire among those who haven t received a vaccine against the disease.
The variant is becoming the dominant strain in some parts of the country such as Bolton and Blackburn, Xinhua news agency quoted hancock as saying to Sky News on Sunday.
But on a more positive note, he said there is a high degree of confidence that the current vaccines are effective against the variant.
Hancock urged those who are eligible for vaccination but have not yet booked an appointment to come forward to get their jab.
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