LettersCovid ‘Freedom Day’ despite Delta surge a reckless move from the UK

It is naive to expect people to be self-disciplined enough to wear masks and practise social distancing when they are not forced to do so.

Coronavirus pandemic

Letters

Published: 11:00am, 28 Jul, 2021

Why you can trust SCMP

Even as the Delta variant of the coronavirus is storming the world, the UK government has surprisingly eased most legal restrictions on social contact in England on July 19. With no masks and no social distancing, people across England celebrated by partying in reopened nightclubs, barely a week after football fans poured into Wembley Stadium for the Euro 2020 final. This does not sound like a wise move.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britons have to learn to “live with this virus”, and take responsibility for what prevention measures to adopt and the associated risks. Wearing masks will be a “personal choice”. I do not agree.

Virus-control measures are needed even with high vaccination rates. The UK government is putting citizens at a higher risk of contracting the deadly virus, rather than focusing on doing all it can to prevent infections. It is naive to expect people to be self-disciplined enough to wear masks and practise social distancing when they are not forced to do so.

02:34

England lifts Covid-19 restrictions as infections surge

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has warned that the UK might see over 100,000 cases per day in the summer. The daily reported cases have declined since July 20, but still hover around 25,000. Why would the UK ease restrictions when the pandemic is not yet under control?

Johnson once asked at a press conference, “If we don’t [ease restrictions] now we’ve got to ask ourselves, when will we ever do it?”

I could answer this question: “When there are fewer cases.”

Jacky Wong, Kwun Tong

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