Today: 12 July 2025
15 April 2021
2 mins read

Boris: Lockdown Driving Decline in Cases

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that lockdown, not the country’s vaccine rollout, is the main reason for the decline of Covid-19 infections in Britain.

“The numbers are down — of infections and hospitalizations and deaths. But it is very, very important for everybody to understand that the reduction in these numbers… has not been achieved by the vaccination programme,” he told Sky News, Xinhua news agency reported.

“People don’t, I think, appreciate that it’s the lockdown that has been overwhelmingly important in delivering this improvement in the pandemic and in the figures that we’re seeing,” he said.

The prime minister said the vaccination programme has helped, but the bulk of the work in reducing the disease has been done by the lockdown.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to the House of Commons in London, Britain, on March 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

“So, as we unlock, the result will inevitably be that we will see more infection, sadly we will see more hospitalization and deaths, and people have just got to understand that,” he said.

However, Johnson said “at the moment” he couldn’t see “any reason” to change his roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions.

All shops reopened from Monday along with hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services.

Restaurants and pubs were allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors. Meanwhile, gyms, spas, zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centers can all open.

On May 17, restaurants and pubs are expected to be allowed to resume indoor service and most rules on gathering outdoors are expected to be lifted.

“It is very, very important that if we’re to get there in the way that we all want that people continue to be cautious and they continue to exercise restraint and just do the basic things to stop the spread of the virus,” he added.

“So, you know, washing your hands, giving people plenty of space, doing things in fresh out as much as you can.”

British scientists have warned that the government is risking a third wave of Covid-19 by easing the lockdown too soon.

The estimated coronavirus reproduction number, also known as the R number, in England is unchanged at between 0.8 and 1, according to the latest official data.

However, the number is believed to be above one in some parts of the country, which means the outbreak could grow exponentially.

More than 32.1 million people have been given the first jab of a coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Experts have warned that despite progress in vaccine rollout, Britain is “still not out of the woods” amid concerns over new variants and the third wave of pandemic on the European continent.

Read More:

https://londondailydigital.com/2021/04/07/boris-holidays-should-be-practical/
https://londondailydigital.com/2021/04/06/boris-plans-for-covid-status-certification/
Previous Story

EU Needs 800B for COVID-19 Recovery

Next Story

Govt simplifies renewal of OCI cards

Latest from -Top News

UAE rolls out red carpet for Indian start-ups

MoU signed with IIT Bombay’s SINE as CEPA Start-up Series aims to accelerate market access for Indian ventures In a bid to bolster cross-border entrepreneurship and innovation, the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC),

Masdar powers ahead in UK

€15 billion clean energy alliance powers ahead with East Anglia THREE investment and Baltic Eagle energisation….reports Asian Lite News Masdar, the UAE-based global clean energy powerhouse, and Iberdrola, one of the world’s

Indian Doctor Gets Top Sharjah Award

The award was presented by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. In a moment of immense pride for the Indian diaspora, renowned paediatrician-turned-entrepreneur Dr.

Peace talks in the desert

President H.H. Sheikh Mohamed reiterated the UAE’s unwavering support for initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable peace, dialogue, and development in the South Caucasus. He also applauded the willingness of the Armenian and

World’s energy thirst to grow: OPEC

UAE sticks to 5 million bpd oil output goal as OPEC launches new World Oil Outlook at Vienna seminar…reports Asian Lite News Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Petroleum
Go toTop