British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced today (21), that health restrictions will end in the United Kingdom next Thursday (24). On April 1, free tests for Covid-19 will no longer be provided to the general population.
The “living with Covid” plan further states that the legal requirement of self-isolation for those who test positive will be dropped.
According to Johnson, efforts to combat the pandemic carried out over the past two years allow restrictions now to shift from being determined by the government to a matter of personal responsibility.
The measures raised objections that the country will be vulnerable to the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus. The prime minister’s strategy should focus on offering booster doses of the vaccine, especially for groups most susceptible to the disease.
Ending restrictions was a priority for many members of the Conservative Party, of which the prime minister is a member.
Leaders from Scotland and Wales, which are part of the United Kingdom and strongly critical of Johnson’s government, said the policy made it difficult to tackle variants of the coronavirus.
According to an agency survey CNN, at least 15 European countries announced easing measures to combat the pandemic this year. They are: Switzerland, France, Norway, Lithuania, Denmark, United Kingdom, Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and Finland.
With information from Emily Alves
Source: CNN Brasil
