Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Unions, medics unhappy as Johnson confirms plan to remove mask, social distancing

Unions, medics unhappy as Johnson confirms plan to remove mask, social distancing

FACE masks, social distancing, QR codes for entry in public places and ordering only at a table in pubs will no longer be a legal requirement in England from July 19 under prime minister Boris Johnson’s final road map out of lockdown announced on Monday (5) at a Downing Street briefing.

Commenting “if not now, then when?”, Johnson declared that all the Covid-19 restrictions in England will end on July 19, adding that the government is looking to "move away from legal restrictions" and will instead allow people "to make their own informed decisions about how to manage the virus". 


Johnson has axed the mandatory use of face masks and social distancing from July 19 onward. Nightclubs will be permitted to reopen, capacity caps on businesses will be lifted, hospitality businesses will no longer be required to provide table service only and there will be no limits on numbers at weddings and funerals, as per the announcement made by Johnson. 

Work from home guidance will also end and limits on named visitors to care homes will be removed. Regarding school bubbles and need for fully-vaccinated Britons to self-isolate on return from "amber list" countries, Johnson said the announcements will be made later this month.

Johnson’s announcement on removal of mandatory use of face masks is getting a mixed response in the country with many politicians, medical experts as well as business unions opposing the move.

GettyImages 1233803456 1 People wear face masks while shopping at Covent Garden on July 4, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Pointing out that mask wearing is still mandatory on public transport in countries with low numbers of Covid-19 cases like New Zealand, Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), advised that some baseline measures should continue beyond the summer, as this will “significantly decrease ongoing transmission”.

Calling the government decision to make mask-wearing a matter-of-choice on public transport an act of “gross negligence”, Unite, a trade union body representing tens of thousands of public transport workers, said that the idea of “personal responsibility” replacing government rules is “absolutely ridiculous”.

“Rates of infection are continuing to increase and not only does mask wearing reduce transmissions, it helps provide reassurance to drivers and to passengers who are nervous about using public transport,” Bobby Morton, Unite’s national officer for passenger transport, said, adding that Unite members have already reported a spike in passengers ignoring rules on mask-wearing and said that they should remain in place until rates of Covid-19 are “fully under control”.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has also urged Johnson to maintain the mandatory requirement to wear face coverings on public transport beyond July 19, saying masks will give all Londoners “confidence” to travel on the Transport for London (TfL) network safely.

More For You

Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Essex ladybird invasion

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear

Dee-anne Markiewicz / SWNS

Swarms of ladybirds invade Essex coastline amid soaring temperatures

Highlights:

  • Ladybird swarms reported across Essex and Suffolk coastal towns
  • Hot weather likely driving the sudden surge in population
  • Sightings include Point Clear, Shoebury, Clacton and Felixstowe
  • Similar outbreaks occurred in 1976 during another hot UK summer

Sudden surge in ladybird numbers across the southeast

Millions of ladybirds have been spotted swarming towns and villages along the Essex coast, with similar sightings stretching into Suffolk. Residents have reported unusually high numbers of the red and black-spotted insects, particularly near coastal areas, with the recent hot weather believed to be a major contributing factor.

One of the largest gatherings was filmed on a beach at Point Clear, a village near St Osyth in Essex, where the insects could be seen piling on top of each other on driftwood and plants.

Keep ReadingShow less