Boris Johnson’s cabinet has come under fire. Measures against the Corona variant B.1.617 are said to have been taken too late – because of a trade agreement.
London – The government in Great Britain has to justify its action to protect against the Corona variant from India. There is criticism from the opposition that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet reacted too late to the danger. The government is defending itself against the allegations.
Health Minister Matt Hancock told Sky News on Sunday (May 16, 2021) that Great Britain could have acted more quickly. India could not have been placed on the red list of countries that have special quarantine measures in the corona pandemic any faster. Strict travel restrictions were imposed in April, explained Hancock – before variant B.1.617.2 was examined in detail. The restrictions obliged travelers to the UK to quarantine hotels.
UK Government: Trade deal more important than health policy
Pakistan and Bangladesh were redlisted by the government before India. According to the British Sunday Times, at least 20,000 people have already entered Great Britain. This decision received criticism from the opposition. The allegation was made that the government was influenced by Prime Minister Johnson’s planned trip to India in April. The trade relations after Brexit should be discussed and a trade agreement with India should be sought. On April 19, the visit was finally canceled due to the corona situation. The guidelines for India did not come into force until a few days later.
Although the vaccination campaign in Great Britain is well advanced, the fear of the Indian Corona variant is growing steadily. “We are in a race between the vaccination campaign and the virus, and this new variant has given the virus a few extra legs in that race, but we have a high level of confidence that the vaccine will win,” said Health Secretary Hancock.
Corona opening plan in Great Britain wobbles – Indian variant could prevent Johnson plans
Boris Johnson had actually announced that he would lift all corona measures on June 21. Johnson wanted to bring Great Britain back to normal “cautiously but irreversibly”, as he announced in February. The spread of the Indian corona mutation could now thwart his plans. The spread of variant B.1.617.2 has so far been limited to local outbreaks with a total of around 1300 cases – but the number tripled within a week. Experts estimate that the Indian variant will soon establish itself as dominant.
The government in London initially wants to stick to the easing as planned. The gradual openings stipulate that meetings with up to six people in private households will be possible from Monday (May 17th, 2021). Indoor catering, theaters, cinemas and museums are also allowed to make openings possible again. In some cases, trips abroad are again permitted without any conditions.
Indian corona variant is spreading in Great Britain – government is sticking to easing
Johnson himself warned on Friday (May 14, 2021) that his easing schedule could stall. In the event that the possible higher transferability of the corona variant B.1.617 proves to be true, a new wave in the pandemic cannot be ruled out. The government wants to decide a week in advance on June 14th whether normality can return to normal on June 21st.
Hancock also defended adherence to the opening plan on Sunday. One simply does not know enough about the transferability of the corona variant, “that is why it is appropriate to continue following the timetable.” But people have to “be vigilant and careful”.
The variant is spreading more and more in Great Britain. The Robert Koch Institute classified Great Britain again as a corona risk area on Friday (May 14th, 2021) after the WHO had classified B.1.617 as “worrying”. According to some experts, the variant could be up to 50 percent more contagious than the mutation B.1.1.7 prevailing in Great Britain. (spr / dpa / afp)
Rubriklistenbild: © House Of Commons
