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Are We Going on Lockdown Again

Written By Friday, March 18, 2022 Add Comment Edit
  • Coronavirus

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    • Will nosotros go back into lockdown again this year? Information technology may exist a new year but business organization around the new Omicron variant and its high transmissibility has many people wondering about further measures in 2022.

    Despite emerging symptoms of Omicron just earlier the festive period, Prime number Government minister Boris Johnson confirmed that in that location wouldn't be any restrictions over Christmas – even going so far as to say that Christmas parties weren't cancelled. It was a decision that meant a repeat of 2020's last-minute celebration cancellation, when the PM introduced new measures on December xix, could be avoided.

    Post-obit this, the pandemic reached new heights in the UK as about 219,000 people tested positive on Jan iv, co-ordinate to the UK Health Security Agency. Just with cases now actualization to be levelling off, will the prime minister exist putting the country back into lockdown?

    Will we get back into lockdown this year?

    While we're still in the early days of 2022, the prime number minister has confirmed that England won't go back into lockdown for the time existence.

    Speaking during a recent visit to a vaccination heart, Boris Johnson said that the country was in a "much better position" than terminal year thanks to the vaccines.

    However, following the fasten in Omicron cases over Christmas and New year's day, he likewise warned it would be "folly" to think the pandemic was over and said that pressure on hospitals would be "considerable" in the upcoming weeks. For this reason, he kept Program B restrictions in place following a review on January five.

    Now at the end of January, the Plan B restrictions are reaching their decease date. If the PM wanted to proceed with the measures, which include face masks in all public spaces and working from home guidance, he would have to pass them through Parliament again.

    People gathering at Waterloo Station, now it's been confirmed that we are not going back into lockdown

    Program A guidance includes allowances for going back into the office, Credit: Getty

    Boris Johnson has announced that he will non be continuing the restrictions and will commence with Program A from January 20. This suggests above all that in that location is no plan to put England back into lockdown at the moment.

    Moving from Program B to Plan A measures includes:

    • An terminate to the work from dwelling rule in the UK – with communication that people speak to their employer about returning to the office.
    • Pupils don't take to wear face masks in the classroom
    • People tin can terminate wearing face masks in indoor public spaces
    • An end to mandatory Covid passes for some venues in England
    • Easing of care home restrictions

    It comes every bit the about recent data shows the number of people with Covid-19 has fallen in England significantly since the offset of the Omicron wave. According to the Function for National Statistics (ONS), around iii.5 million people in the UK tested positive for coronavirus in the week ending January 15. While still significant, this is much less than the iv.iii million who tested positive the week before.

    This now works out to exist roughly one in 20 people infected with the virus or an estimated 5.3% of the population.

    Boris Johnson has previously warned, nonetheless, that people should exist "sensible" virtually their social interactions and have a lateral catamenia examination before meeting people they don't normally see. This is particularly important, health experts suggest, every bit the symptoms of Omicron resemble more of a cold than previous strains. He as well added that getting a showtime, second or a booster jab was imperative to stay safety.

    "We've got to remain cautious, we've got to stick with plan B, we've got to get boosted," the prime minister said.

    While many believed we were fix for another Covid-themed Christmas, with restrictions limiting gatherings of family and friends, the prime minister opted for a "normality" of sorts with Program B.

    "The state of affairs remains extremely difficult, just I too recognise that people accept been waiting to hear virtually whether their Christmas plans, your Christmas plans, are going to be afflicted," he said at the fourth dimension.

    "What I tin say tonight is that naturally we can't rule out any further measures afterwards Christmas, and we're going to keep a constant centre on the date – nosotros will practice any it takes to protect public health.

    "Merely, in the view of the continuing uncertainty about several things – the severity of Omicron, the uncertainty about the hospitalisation rates or the bear upon of the vaccine rollout and the boosters – we don't recollect today that there is enough evidence to justify any tougher measures before Christmas."

    This proclamation came just days before the Wellness Security Agency (UKHSA) announced that the rules on when you tin come up out of Covid isolation accept changed in England. Those who tested negative on day six and seven of their quarantine didn't have to isolate for the total 10 days. This has now, at the time of writing, been reduced to five days in isolation following a negative test on day v and 6.

    Both the wellness secretary and the prime minister accept encouraged people to have upwards their booster jab when it is available to them, saying it was "more vital than ever". The jab is now available to anyone over 16 years onetime, post-obit updated guidance from the Articulation Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI).

    Health officials accept also urged people to continue taking tests for the virus, which are now available once more later on a temporary shortage in December. Lateral flow tests can exist faux positive, however, this is highly unlikely to be the case co-ordinate to new enquiry. So, anyone without symptoms should also utilise these to test where possible.

    The modify in the rules came around the same time that reports emerged of gatherings taking identify at 10 Downing Street over lockdown. Now being investigated by Sue Gray, who is a senior civil retainer, the inquiry is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

    But while information technology looks like England won't be going dorsum into lockdown at the moment, experts accept wanted that a tighter clampdown could be on the style if people don't take to the measures.

    Professor Greg Towers, Division of Infection and Amnesty at University Higher London, said that if people care for the pandemic like "it's all over" then in that location will be higher infection rates – and more than take a chance of a lockdown.

    He told Times Radio, "If we don't article of clothing masks and if we ignore social distancing rules, and if we pretend it's all over, then what's going to happen is we'll get some other large wave of infection and we'll become put into lockdown again. And so, if we don't want lockdown, we've got to endeavor and terminate the spread by easier means like mask-wearing and social distancing."

    Plan A and B were appear earlier in the summer by the government every bit the way the land would handle Covid-19 in the winter.

    Plan A prevented the NHS from experiencing serious pressure through vaccines for more age groups and more testing. As part of the plan, Track and Trace continued and the government encouraged businesses to consider using the NHS Covid Laissez passer to check whether customers had a double vaccination.

    Two people walking down the road wearing a face mask in England as we may go back into lockdown again

    Credit: Getty

    Plan B was put into place by officials as they believed the NHS was coming under "unsustainable pressure" due to the Omicron variant over winter last twelvemonth.

    Earlier in October, post-obit a rise to up to 40,000 cases for eight days in a row, doctors from The British Medical Clan said ministers should begin their Plan B. They also accused the government of being "wilfully negligent" for refusing to reimpose Covid rules, such equally compulsory face masks, before this date.

    However, Wellness Minister Edward Argar said at the time that the NHS was not under the "unsustainable pressure level" required to justify new restrictions. "We know how those numbers tin rising swiftly, which is why nosotros're looking at that mean solar day past 24-hour interval, hr by hr," he said. "But at the moment nosotros do have the power to manage."

    On announcing the cease of lockdown earlier this yr, Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested that when the measures did lift, it would be "irreversible". But there would also be "trade offs" involved.

    He said, "We tin can begin safely to restart our lives and do it with conviction. But I want to exist frank virtually exactly what that means and the trade-offs involved. The vaccines reduce the danger of Covid: they save lives and they continue people out of hospital.

    "But no vaccine against any affliction has e'er been 100 per cent effective," he continued. "Then whenever we ease the lockdown, whether it is today or in six or nine months, nosotros've got to be realistic and have that there volition be more infections, more hospitalisations and therefore – sadly – more deaths, simply every bit there are every year with influenza. Fifty-fifty if nosotros sustained the lockdown indefinitely, which would itself price lives and exercise immeasurable harm to our children, we would not be able to eradicate this disease."

    "And that is why it is so crucial that this roadmap should be cautious only also irreversible. We are setting out on what I hope and believe is a one way road to freedom."

    Even when the government delayed the end of lockdown on June 21 2021 past four weeks, the message stayed the same. The prime number government minister continued to stress that England'due south arroyo was "cautious just irreversible". He also repeatedly referred to July 19 every bit the "terminus date" for restrictions. Following this, the public dubbed July 19 as "Freedom 24-hour interval".

    Wellness Secretarial assistant Sajid Javid also said earlier in the summer that there would be no further lockdowns after July nineteen. He told news outlets that he wanted the restrictions to elevator "as quickly as possible". He added it was "going to be irreversible, there's no going back. That's why nosotros want to be careful during that procedure."

    On July 5, however, the PM did reveal that the government would go on some "contingency measures" in identify. These would be "to assistance manage the virus during higher risk periods, such as the winter".

    He said, "We will place accent on strengthened guidance and do everything possible to avoid reimposing restrictions with all the costs that they bring."

    Announcing plans for how the country would "live with Covid", the regime said that they intended to:

    • Reduce the vaccine dose interval for under 40s from 12 weeks to 8
    • Move away from legal restrictions to allow people to make their ain decisions nigh managing the virus
    • Go along with a "proportionate" test, trace and isolate organisation
    • Maintain tough edge controls (with the requirement to prove a double vaccination before travel)

    In late July, experts were all the same cautioning the public that the situation could worsen in the winter. They didn't confirm whether we will go back into lockdown this year just said that if cases do ascension substantially, the government may have no choice just to enforce restrictions.

    Is Scotland going dorsum into lockdown?

    No, the most contempo restrictions in Scotland came to an finish on January 17 2022.

    Previously, only 100 people could attend indoor standing events, with upward to 200 people at indoor seated events and upwardly to 500 people – either seated or continuing – at outdoor events. This restriction is no longer in place in Scotland as of January 17.

    Then from January 24, all rules on indoor events and venues volition be lifted – including the need for table service in hospitality locations. Nightclubs will also be able to open from this date.

    The change to the rules before the new year meant that various larger scale Hogmanay events were cancelled.

    Starting time Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that over the offset calendar week of January, everyone should "stay at habitation right now more than normal" and reduce social contact with people from exterior of their household.

    "The new protective measures relating to hospitality, public indoor places and alive events that I gear up out final week are at present in forcefulness," she said.

    "We will review these on an ongoing footing – however, at this stage, our expectation is that they will exist in force until 17 January.

    Some social distancing measures were also re-introduced earlier Christmas, with Deputy Kickoff Government minister John Swinney urging people to have "the greatest of care" when mixing households.

    This included the guidance to but mix in groups of upward to three households at a time and social distancing measures for shops and hospitality venues.

    "Nosotros hope that we accept done enough in the announcements that were made yesterday and we promise that members of the public and businesses will piece of work with united states in a cooperative spirit to make sure that nosotros can take these provisions forwards," Mr Swinney told Good Morning Scotland at the fourth dimension.

    Nicola Sturgeon had previously warned that she was prepared to enforce Covid restrictions in Scotland where necessary.

    Speaking well-nigh the new restrictions, she said,  "Fifty-fifty if yous feel aroused with a politician simply now, delight remember merely how important compliance is for the health and safety of you, your loved ones and the country."

    Scotland was as well the first to bladder the thought of a circuit billow lockdown over the end of the summertime. It was a potential option to stalk the rise in cases before kids went back to school for the new year. However, it didn't happen and Scotland take retained their Level Zip Covid status since restrictions were lifted in August.

    Nevertheless, the FM used the SNP Conference in Nov – which occurred just hours later the diagnosis of the Omicron variant in Scotland – to double downward on the fight against the virus.

    "In contempo weeks, we have had much in Scotland to feel thankful for. Compared to many countries beyond Europe, Covid cases here take been stable – indeed they have been declining slightly. To be frank, that'due south a much better position that I had dared promise for a couple of months ago."

    But she said, "There are big and very existent challenges alee over the wintertime months. Cases are rising in countries all around united states. We know that colder weather condition, forcing usa indoors, coupled with festive socialising volition create increased opportunities for the virus to spread. And, most seriously of all, the Omicron variant is causing profound concern here and beyond the earth.

    "And then nosotros must non drop our baby-sit. This is a fourth dimension to be more vigilant, not less."

    Ms Sturgeon said that a number of countries had been added to Scotland's travel red listing and anyone arriving from these places must now go into a managed quarantine facility. Travellers likewise accept to isolate until they get a negative outcome from the PCR examination that they practice on solar day two of their inflow, regardless of where they've come from.

    "We are as well asking close contact of whatever confirmed cases of Omicron to isolate," she said, " That none of this was even contemplated merely a few days ago, is a reminder of how fast this virus tin move and change. Nosotros must, all of united states, therefore redouble our efforts to finish it in its tracks."

    However, other ministers have previously noted that there would be issues with financially supporting another lockdown in Scotland. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes claimed earlier this year that the country doesn't take the money for further intense restrictions and would only be able to enforce them if the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland government was willing to fund a complete shutdown.

    Ms Forbes said that there wouldn't be whatever money available for furlough if Scotland was forced to go into lockdown again, leaving people unable to work without financial aid.

    Speaking a Holyrood'southward Finance Committee, she said, "One of the biggest challenges right now from a financial perspective is the fact that there hasn't been that much additional consequential funding from the Uk Government in the last few months.

    "Right now we are trying to remobilise the health service, remobilise the justice arrangement, remobilise a whole host of unlike public services, as well as deal with the ongoing covid bear upon from a budget that has not been supplemented by additional consequentials coming from the UK Government in the way that it was final twelvemonth.

    "That'south not what nosotros're discussing at the moment. Nosotros're talking about trying to maximise the impact of the baseline measures. But if we were to, then we have no certainty that furlough volition be in place. We take no certainty that cocky employed income support volition be in place. And I accept no certainty that at that place will be any additional funding in place.

    She added, "I am non sitting on funds right now that I could deploy to support businesses. Nosotros would need additional help from the Uk Authorities."

    Is Wales going back into lockdown?

    First Government minister Marker Drakeford warned that some of the scrapped Covid-nineteen restrictions could come back and similarly to Scotland, enforced new measures before Christmas.

    Nonetheless, Mr Drakeford has at present set out a programme for Wales to return to alert level zero on January 28 if cases go on to autumn as they are.

    The measures, put into place on Boxing Day 2021, included advice to limit social contact with others exterior of the household – especially if seeing older or more than vulnerable people. There were besides changes and so it is an offence to not work from home if you lot're able to. Only groups of upwardly to 6 people are allowed to gather in hospitality venues with the requirement for table service, compulsory confront masks and contact tracing in place.

    Nightclubs as well airtight from Dec 27.

    Anyone going to the cinema, theatre, or a concert in Wales from November 15 has to prove a double vaccination with a Covid laissez passer. Pubs, cafes and restaurants also may crave the passes as well.

    Will Northern Republic of ireland have another lockdown?

    Northern Ireland has had i of the slower journeys out of lockdown in the Britain. Subsequently only reopening nightclubs on October 31, executive ministers have reinforced some restrictions.

    These included endmost nightclubs once more on December 26 and banning all indoor continuing events. There also also at present restrictions on hospitality venues and pubs, cafes and restaurants must provide table service only. Like to Wales, only six people are allowed to sit together at a table – merely this rule does not permit to wedding ceremony celebrations.

    Proof of a double Covid vaccine is also required to gain access to some hospitality premises and indoor settings. Simply this rule has been in place in Northern Ireland since December xiii.

    In mid-November 2021, infection rates in Northern Republic of ireland were the highest in the Great britain – above Wales.

    While working from dwelling is not compulsory in England, Wellness Minister Robin Swann said he believes anyone in Northern Ireland who was working from home during the height of the pandemic last year should practise and then again.

    The rules on face masks were never dropped in Northern Ireland either. They remain mandatory on public transport, in shops and in all indoor attractions unless y'all are exempt.

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    Source: https://www.goodto.com/family/family-news/will-we-go-back-into-lockdown-this-year-595165

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