‘Freedom day:’ Does science support lifting all COVID-19 restrictions?

The United Kingdom’s July COVID-19 reopening has scientists divided. Medical News Today spoke with various researchers and doctors, and that they all agreed on one point: fully reopen or not, keep some restrictions like mask-wearing in situ .

Commuters travel on the underground network during hour on July 6, 2021, in London, England. Leon Neal/Getty Images
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As the U.K. reemerges from many months of caution, COVID-19 lockdowns, and restrictions, everyone has one question on their minds: Is it right to lift all measures at once?

Dubbed England’s “freedom day” or the government’s “Step 4” in plans to return to normal, July 19 is that the date British government seeks to finish all legal, social, and economic restrictions imposed to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, the U.K. had given summer solstice as its grand reopening day; however, the amount of newly confirmed daily COVID cases and below target vaccination rates forced the govt to postpone the date by a minimum of 3 weeks.

The U.K. government said that delaying the date would enable more people to receive first and second vaccinations against COVID-19. Its plans included offering a primary dose of the vaccine to all or any over-18s and providing two-thirds of adults with a second dose by July 19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government are reluctant to stay restrictions in situ any more , provided the info support it. This includes evaluating the success of the nation’s vaccination program and therefore the impact COVID-19 cases wear the National Health Service (NHS).

Both scientists and Johnson have acknowledged that although vaccines have weakened the linkTrusted Source between COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, it’s not severed it, which calls to attention the need of other sorts of measures.

So, could a reopening of this scale effectively erase (almost) all progress recorded thus far , or has the U.K. got everything under control? Will the U.K. have, consistent with Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party , a “summer of chaos and confusion.” The scientists have weighed in.