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As UK Heads To End Pandemic Restrictions, Doctors Say Some Prevention Measures Should Remain
According to the Sky News, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hoping that the final phase of his plans to end England's restrictions can go ahead on 19 July. However, the British Medical Association says that some coronavirus prevention measures should remain after 19 July to stop the "alarming" rise in cases. Doctors
Sky News reported that Public Health England figures show 161,981 confirmed and probable cases of the Delta variant - up 50,824 or 46% on the previous week.
The news agency reported, citing the council's chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul as saying that, easing restrictions was not an "all or nothing" decision, and that "sensible, cautious" measures will be vital to minimising the impact of further waves, new variants and lockdowns.
He added: "As case numbers continue to rise at an alarming rate due to the rapid transmission of the Delta variant and an increase in people mixing with one another, it makes no sense to remove restrictions in their entirety in just over two weeks' time.
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"The promise was to make decisions based on data and not dates, and while we were pleased to see the government react to data in delaying the easing on 21 June last month, ministers must not now simply disregard the most recent, damning, numbers by rushing into meeting their new 19 July deadline."
Dr Nagpaul said the BMA was not asking for the reopening to be delayed but it wanted "targeted measures" to help prevent virus transmission.
These include face masks in public areas such as shops and public transport, and better public messaging about the importance of social distancing and ventilation.
Dr Nagpaul added: "Everyone appreciates the efforts and sacrifices we have all made so far to suppress the spread of the virus, and it would be tragic if we were to undo this good work now." Doctors
The number of people being admitted to hospital with COVID-19 remains low compared to the rise in cases but Dr Nagpaul said: "Even if people aren't getting admitted to hospital at the same rate, spiralling levels of community transmission provides a fertile ground for new, potentially vaccine-resistant variants to develop."
It comes as The Times reports that ministers plan to drop all requirements, including isolation for fully-vaccinated people who come into contact with some who is infected with COVID-19.
A meeting on Monday will look at a plan to advise - but not require - fully-vaccinated people to take daily tests in this situation.
Some 45,013,503 people in the UK have now had their first jab - 85.5% of all adults - while 33,241,265 people have had both jabs - 63.1% of adults. Doctors
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- November 7, 2024
Amid growing anxiety among several European countries participating in NATO over Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated he looks forward to sitting down with Trump.
Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.
Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.
On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.
It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.
Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.
Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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