London ends coronvirus restrictions; why the U.S. may not be able to follow

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Fri, 2022-02-25 10:45 — mike kraft

London drops Tube mask rule as part of ‘living with the virus.’ Is the U.K. ready? London transport officials Thursday dropped the requirement for commuters to wear masks on subways and buses, although they were still recommended. Karla Adam Washington Post

LONDON — For the first time in almost two years, people in England woke up Thursday to no coronavirus restrictions. None. Zero. Zip. Yes, there’s advice and recommendations, but there are no mandates, no rules that if broken could result in fines.

The British government has lifted all remaining curbs, including the requirement to self-quarantine for those who test positive for the coronavirus — they are still encouraged to isolate, but it’s no longer unlawful if they don’t. Likewise, London transport officials Thursday dropped the requirement for commuters to wear masks on subways and buses, although they were recommended to wear them if they can.

ALSO SEE: Why the US may not be able to drop COVID restrictions like the UK

It was the first day of the British government’s vision to let people “live with the virus.” Detailing the plans earlier in the week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that it was time to stop restricting “the liberties of the British people.”

There have been a few grand reopenings of England over the past two years, but this is the first time that all curbs are gone. This “Covid Freedom Day,” as some British media outlets have called it, was arguably less of a moment than other “freedom days,” with many of the remaining restrictions having been peeled away in recent months.

While the pandemic isn’t over, Johnson said, England can now deal with the virus “in a very different way, moving from government restrictions to personal responsibility.”

The coronavirus will now be treated more like the seasonal flu, he said.

Other nations in the United Kingdom — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are taking a more cautious approach. ...

ALSO SEE: British Medical Association criticizes the plan.

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The British Medical Association (BMA) said the government's plan would likely cause "more uncertainty and anxiety" for the most vulnerable and called for more provisions to protect them.

The Opposition Labour Party is unhappy over the withdrawal of support payments, with leader Keir Starmer warning that the decision "will hit the lowest paid and the most insecure workers the hardest". ...

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