Britain Plans to Reopen on July 19th with 85% of its Population Vaccinated with at Least One Shot

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LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to announce on Monday that most remaining coronavirus restrictions in England would be lifted starting July 19, allowing nightclubs to reopen and removing limits on social gatherings, weddings, funerals and sporting events.

Mr. Johnson could also announce at a news conference scheduled for late afternoon that face coverings would be recommended but no longer mandatory on public transportation and indoors and that social-distancing requirements would be ended in most places. The changes are also expected to end an appeal for nonessential employees to work from home and the requirement for customers to leave contact details when entering pubs and restaurants.

However, legal restrictions on international travel will remain, including a color-coded traffic-light system for countries depending on their caseload and entry rules requiring proof of vaccination or negative coronavirus tests. Also starting July 19, the government has said, fully vaccinated travelers entering England from countries designated to be in the “amber” category will no longer have to quarantine.

“Cases will rise as we unlock, so as we confirm our plans today, our message will be clear,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement on Monday. “Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we don’t undo our progress.” He added that the country would have to protect its health care system.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also working to reopen on separate, though similar, timelines.

Some scientists and health experts have criticized Mr. Johnson’s government for the proposed move. An article in the medical journal The Lancet called the plans “dangerous and premature” as the Delta variant has driven a third wave of the virus in recent weeks.

Last week, Britain reported a daily average of 31,116 new infections, and cases have risen by 113 percent compared with that figure two weeks ago, according to a New York Times database. Deaths and hospitalizations remain relatively low compared to the country’s January peak, though they are rising. There was an average of 29 deaths per day over the past week, a 64 percent increase.

Officials have predicted that new cases could rise to up to 100,000 a day when the rules are relaxed.

The government still reserves the right to postpone the reopening date, depending on a review of factors including the effect of immunization on reducing hospitalizations and deaths, and the impact of variants.

Nonetheless, Mr. Johnson has signaled that the plan for the July 19 lifting will most likely stay in place, though officials have urged the public to exercise caution as the economy reopens fully.

The government had already delayed the reopening by a month in an attempt to vaccinate more of the population.

As of Saturday, about 87 percent of adults in Britain had received at least one vaccine dose, and officials have said that they will accelerate plans to administer second doses for those under 40.

— Isabella Kwai

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/07/12 ... us-updates