LONDON (AP) – The consensus among the four nations in the UK on planning to reduce coronavirus restrictions over Christmas appears to be worn out, although everyone agreed on Wednesday to keep the laws on relaxation.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the four nations had agreed “unanimously” to keep the special Christmas rules, but it seems the guidelines in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could be different from the beginning of the five-day relaxation from December 23rd.
Following a meeting of leaders of the four nations on Wednesday, the Christmas Relaxation Act will be upheld, allowing three different homes to form a festive bubble until December 27th.
Johnson told lawmakers that there was agreement at the meeting that “we should proceed in principle with existing regulations because we do not want to criminalize the plans of the people who made time.”
While the law will not necessarily change, the guidelines may differ between the four nations. Welsh Prime Minister Mark Drakeford has already said his government’s recommendation is that only two households meet.
Concern about the expected flexibility has increased in recent days. With the rise of new infections in many places, many fear that relaxation will only increase infections and deaths and put too much pressure on the already stressed National Health Service.
Johnson said it is important for people to make the right assessments of what is best for them and for those closest and dearest.
“We believe it is absolutely vital that people, at this very difficult time, exercise a high degree of personal responsibility, especially when they come into contact with older people and avoid contact with older people whenever possible,” he said.
The impending temporary alienation comes days after many parts of the country have seen their restrictions tightened. On Wednesday, London and the surrounding areas entered the highest level of local restrictions in England (level 3), in which pubs and restaurants had to close again apart from the kitchen, and more curbs were placed in the different households that met. Other areas of England, including the cities of Manchester and Birmingham, will find out later on Wednesday if they will move to Level 2 restrictions.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the launch of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer of America and German company BioNTech had changed the narrative since the Christmas bubble decision was made last month. past. The UK on December 8 became the first country in the world to use the vaccine, which has an efficacy rate of around 95%.
“It is hoped that at the beginning of the new year, if not before, these people can be vaccinated. So why not wait a few weeks or months to reunite the family when you can safely do so in 2021? “he told BBC radio.
New British vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Wednesday that 137,897 people had been shot since inoculations began. Everyone must return in three weeks to follow up.
“A good start for the vaccination program,” he said in a tweet.
The government, which provides the vaccine free of charge mainly to hospitals so far, is first targeting nursing home workers and people over the age of 80. they were kept at super cold temperatures.
Despite the update, there are still questions about how many people can be inoculated on a given day and what proportion of people who are offered the vaccine agree to receive a vaccine.
So far, it is known that 800,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are in the UK and 5 million more are expected to arrive this year, half of the original expectations.
British regulators are currently evaluating other vaccines, from the American biotech firm Modern and one developed by Oxford University and the British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca.
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