Boris Johnson fears, new COVID-19 variant might delay reopening

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the country will accelerate its COVID-19 vaccination program to contain a rapidly spreading variant first identified in India that could keep the economy from reopening. The UK has delivered one of the world's fastest vaccination campaigns, giving nearly 70 per cent of the adult population a first chance and a second to 36 per cent, helping to reduce infection rates and deaths.

It is, therefore, more important than ever that people get the additional protection of a second dose, 'he said at a news conference on Friday.

"Following advice from the Joint Vaccination and Immunization Committee, we will accelerate the remaining second doses to more than 50 and those that are clinically vulnerable across the country, so these doses come just eight weeks after the first dose," he said. said.

The emergence of the B.1.617.2 variant in parts of northern England and London prompted some scientists to delay reopening and a rethinking of the rate of vaccination of the vaccine.

"I believe we need to rely on our vaccines to protect the public while closely monitoring the situation, as the race between our vaccination program and the virus could be on the verge of becoming much tougher," Johnson told a news conference. .

The spread of the variant could disrupt Britain's progress towards closure, making it more difficult to move to the final phase of a weakened reopening of the economy in June.

"It's very clear now that we need to live with this new variant of the virus for some time, so let's work together, and let's be careful and prudent," he said.

Johnson was set to lift all restrictions on June 21, after allowing people in England to cuddle again, meet in small groups inside and travel abroad from Monday.

Chris Whitty, chief medical officer of England, said there was now confidence that B.1.617.2 was more transmissible than the variant first discovered in Kent which sparked the second wave of infections in England. He said B.1.617.2 could dominate in Britain.

Public Health England said on Thursday there were 1,313 cases in B.1.617.2 in England in a week, more than double the previous week, with four confirmed deaths.