Easing Covid-19 lockdown in the UK could be delayed

The vaccination programme itself is in the final stage. The UK will enter the under-30s final on the vaccine priority list sooner.

Ministers are considering whether the last lockdown restrictions will be eased on June 21, as planned. Reports showed that the final step of the Government’s plan could be postponed by two weeks.

Easing Covid-19 lockdown in the UK could be delayed

Ministers were given a piece of dark advice based on the latest data on Monday. The briefing delivered by Chris Witty, chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Balance, a chief scientific adviser.

It happens as over-25s in England will be offered the first dose after the first jab was given six months ago.

Matt Hancock, a Health Secretary, said on Monday that it too soon to say England’s lockdown limitation will be raised on June 21. Meanwhile, figures published that case increased in more areas in the UK than since early January.

Mr Hancock mentioned Step 4 would be postponed as long as possible. The conclusion is to be made next Monday. On the other side, Downing Street told there was zero in the data that delaying is needed. However, Mr Hancock added that he was convinced that freedom will return one day soon.

UK enter final stage of vaccination

The vaccination programme itself is in the final stage. The UK will enter the under-30s final on the vaccine priority list sooner. NHS named it a watershed moment.

Stephen Powis, NHS England national medical director, said, “It is unusual to think that just six months after the first jab in Coventry in December, we have now injected three-quarters of the adult people with their first dose and over half with their second dose.”

Mr Powis added that it is a huge achievement. He also mentioned that vaccination is the way out of the pandemic, so important that people come to the vaccination’s invitation and get it.

Figures show as of June 6, England has achieved 23,710,646 second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. It means the equivalent of 53.6% of its adult population is fully vaccinated, with 76.4% of adults having taken one jab.

Delta variant cases in the UK

However, the Delta variant made the race between the vaccination programme and the virus more established, Mr Hancock revealed. Not to worry because the vaccine was defeating the previously “rock-solid” link between infections and hospital admittances.

The data as of June 3 revealed that from 12,383 cases of the Delta variant 464 went on to give at emergency care and 126 people were confirmed to the hospital. Of those confirmed, 83 were unvaccinated, 28 had got one dose and three had taken both doses of the vaccine, Mr Hancock said. The range of the Delta variant has seen cases grow in almost all sectors of north-west England, London and Scotland.