Filenews 10 January 2022
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has not ruled out the possibility of changes in the management of the coronavirus pandemic, such as a reduction in the quarantine period for carriers and the abolition of the free availability of antigen tests to all citizens.
During a visit to a pharmacy at noon on Monday, Mr Johnson initially said the country is making "great progress", but warned that the Omikron variant remains "incredibly contagious".
He said that now 36 million. citizens have made the third dose of the vaccine, but noted that on the other hand the number of hospitalized patients has recorded a huge increase and continues to grow.
"We are making a lot of progress. The number of people who have done the booster dose is 36 million, 90% of the over-50s have done it, but there are still millions who have to do it," the British Prime Minister said.
Asked if further reducing the isolation time of those diagnosed positive for the coronavirus from seven to five days, a move supported by some Conservative ministers and MPs, is being considered, Mr Johnson replied: "What we need to do is look at science. We are looking at it and we will act according to science."
Shortly afterwards a spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office commented on this that "if it is possible to go further, we would like to act quickly, but it needs to be based on the newest elements and this work is ongoing and we have certainly not received any further recommendation".
On the question of whether the restriction is considering the free availability of rapid antigen tests only to symptomatic citizens and to health facilities or schools, Mr Johnson said these tests would be free for all free of charge "for as long as necessary".
The British Prime Minister also defended the mandatory vaccination for frontline workers of the NHS health system, saying that "perhaps 30% or more" of the 18,000 hospitalised coronavirus carriers contracted after being admitted to hospital.
"For me this is simply unacceptable. You shouldn't go to the hospital and then get Covid. So it's very important that our NHS staff are properly protected, properly vaccinated, and I definitely encourage them."
The government has decided that any NHS worker in England who comes into contact with patients without having received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by February 3 will be at risk of losing their place at the end of March.
APE-MPA
