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UK Health Secretary: England to be liberated from the shackles of lockdown next Monday

The Express reported that after 17 months of living under draconian Covid rules, England is set to be freed from the grips of the pandemic at the start of next week. The Health Secretary told MPs most legal coronavirus restrictions will be lifted from next Monday as the country continues its return to normality.
Mr Javid announced new guidance on face masks and the introduction of vaccine certificates - dubbed as vaccine passports - for large events.
Stage 4 of the Government's roadmap was originally due to take place on June 21 but was pushed back by four weeks to allow more people to be double vaccinated.
According to the Express, almost two thirds of the adult population (66 percent) of the UK have now had two doses of coronavirus jabs, while 87.1 percent have had at least one injection.
Mr Javid told parliament, "We firmly believe that this is the right time to get our nation closer to normal life, so we will move to the next stage of our roadmap on July the 19th."
He added, wWe have looked closely at the data against these four tests and we firmly believe this is the right time to get our nation closer to normal life.
"So, we will move to the next stage of our roadmap on July 19.
"To those who say why take this step now, I say if not now when?
"There will never be a perfect time to take this step because we simply cannot eradicate this virus - whether we like it or not, coronavirus is not going away."
While face masks will no longer be legally enforceable, ministers are releasing guidance urging the public to continue wearing them in enclosed public spaces.
While Britons will no longer be at risk of being fined for not wearing a mask on a commuter train or in a shop, the heavy expectation will be that they should continue to be worn in some circumstances.
Mr Javid also announced venues such as nightclubs and football stadiums will be encouraged to introduce coronavirus vaccine certification.
Larger venues will be advised by the Government to require customers to show proof of two vaccines, a negative lateral flow test within the past 48 hours, or proof of natural immunity via a positive PCR test within the last six months, to gain entry.
Officials believe the passport system will help limit the spread of infection, while also encouraging younger Brits to get jabbed.
He said: "We're publishing a plan today showing the safe and gradual approach that we'll be taking throughout the summer.
"It includes details of how we'll be encouraging businesses and large events to use certification in high risk settings to limit the risk of spreading infection, how we'll use guidance for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable, and details of a review that we'll be conducting in September to assess our preparedness for autumn and winter.
"As we make these changes it is so important people act with caution and with personal responsibly."
The Health Secretary added: "It is expected and recommended that people should wear face coverings unless they are exempt in crowded indoor settings like public transport."
The lifting of restrictions comes despite a surge in the number of cases and hospitalisations.
In the past week, there have been 221,052 new infections registered following a positive Covid test, a 27.3 percent rise in the seven day average.
Over the same period, there has also been a 56.6 percent increase in hospitalisations, with 563 admissions yesterday.
The Health Secretary said despite the increase in infection rate, the successful rollout of the inoculation programme means ministers feel confident about lifting restrictions.
Boris Johnson will hold a televised briefing from Downing Street at 5pm to confirm the changes to the public.
Source: express
Image source: PARLIAMENT.TV-express
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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