News

UK Drops Face Masks, Social Distance Rules From July 19, As PM Johnson Pushes Freedom Day Button

Published

3 years ago

July 6, 2021

From July 19, the United Kingdom (UK) will no longer require British citizens to wear a face mask while the country will end the social distancing rules and other mandatory rules to curtail Covid, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a briefing on Monday.

Johnson said the government will also no longer going to announce advisorys to encourage people to work from home.

In a bold shift despite daily Covid cases rising a fifth in a week to 27,000, the PM told a Downing Street briefing that they could hit 50,000.

But he insisted even though the pandemic “certainly won’t be over” by July 19 and people should not be ‘demob happy’ the government will no longer issue ‘top down’ orders.

Johnson insisted he had to “balance the risks… the risks of the disease, and the risks of continuing with restrictions.”

“If we don’t go ahead now when we’ve clearly done so much with the vaccination programme to break the link between infection and death.

“If we don’t go ahead now when the summer firebreak is coming up, the school holidays, all the advantages that that should give us in fighting the virus, then the question is, ”when would we go ahead?”

“Particularly given the likelihood the virus will have an extra advantage in the colder months, in the autumn, and in the winter.

“So we run the risk of either opening up at a very difficult time when the virus has an edge, has an advantage in the colder months, or again putting everything off to next year so I do think it’s going to be a very balanced decision next week.”

The one-meter plus decree and advice to work from home where possible will be dropped, with mask-wearing no longer mandatory – while pubs and other venues will not have to collect customer details and will again be able to serve drinks at the bar.

Johnson also said limits on gatherings are going and torpedoed the idea of legally requiring “Covid certificates” at bars and restaurants, with the vaccination drive instead of being trusted to do the heavy lifting of protecting the public.

The news was warmly welcomed by the hospitality industry and other sectors that have been hammered by the crisis.

However, although the premier said he intends to replace self-isolation with testing for anyone who is double jabbed and comes into contact with a positive case, he did not say when that would happen and it is understood it will probably be after July 19. Children would also be covered by the arrangements.

Johnson also said an announcement will be made later in the week on dropping the “bubble” rules that have been causing chaos in schools. There have been signs that the change will only take effect at the start of next term in September – although Sajid Javid suggested tonight that it could happen this month.

The PM stopped short of confirming that quarantine requirements for “amber list” countries will be waived for double-jabbed Brits from July 19. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to make an announcement later in the week.

The plan for the final stage of the roadmap will be subject to a final approval next Monday, although it appears it would take something extraordinary to change the PM’s mind at this stage.

The UK today recorded another 27,334 cases – up nearly a fifth on the same day last week – but deaths remained in single figures at nine.

The government has also said it will “maintain contingency plans for reimposing economic and social restrictions at a local, regional or national level” in case the situation deteriorates.

Meanwhile, doubts have been raised over whether mask-wearing will be completely scrapped this month, even though the law will fall away. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has refused to say whether he will keep the rules on the Tube, while Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has demanded a rethink to protect the vulnerable. Unions warned it would be “gross negligence” to drop the requirement.

Government sources suggested that in theory train companies and businesses could keep demanding face coverings are worn, even if the law is changed. Nicola Sturgeon has also suggested that the rules could continue for longer in Scotland.

Asked whether he would keep wearing masks, Johnson said it would ‘depend on the circumstances’ – pointing out that a crowded Tube train is very different from a deserted late-night service.

Chris Whitty – flanking the PM as usual at the briefing – said he would don a covering if other people were “uncomfortable.”

Putting his faith in the vaccines, Mr. Johnson said: “We’re seeing rising hospital admissions and we must reconcile ourselves sadly to more deaths from Covid.

“In these circumstances, we must take a careful and a balanced decision.

“And there’s only one reason why we can contemplate going ahead to step four in circumstances where we’d normally be locking down further, and that’s because of the continuing effectiveness of the vaccine rollout.”

He said the expectation remains that by July 19 every adult in the UK will have had the offer of the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine and two-thirds will have had a second dose.

And he highlighted that lockdowns ‘inevitably take their toll on people’s lives and livelihoods, on people’s health and mental health.”

“We must be honest with ourselves that if we can’t reopen our society in the next few weeks when we will be helped by the arrival of summer, and by the school holidays, then we must ask ourselves ‘when will we be able to return to normal?” he said.

“And to those who say we should delay again – the alternative to that is to open up in winter when the virus will have an advantage, or not at all this year.”

Speaking at Downing Street, science chief Sir Patrick Vallance warned that ‘deaths are increasing’ and “we would expect that to continue as Covid cases rise, as he said people must ‘behave accordingly in terms of trying to limit transmission.”

Sir Patrick said infections are “going up” and “the link between cases and hospitalisations and cases and deaths is weakened but not completely broken, and we would expect to see some further increase.”

He said, “we are in the face of an increasing epidemic at the moment and therefore we need to behave accordingly in terms of trying to limit transmission.”

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Travel

Air Peace Flight Delayed, Passengers Stranded After Failed Promise of Hotel Stay

Published

5 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Passengers aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Owerri found themselves in a state of disarray and frustration after a series of delays and unmet promises left them stranded without accommodations.

What was supposed to be a routine flight scheduled to depart Abuja at 4:30 PM and arrive in Owerri at 5:30 PM turned into a nightmare as the flight was delayed until 6:18 PM due to a reported lack of a pilot.

However, midway through the journey, passengers were informed that the flight couldn’t proceed to Owerri because the airport there would close by 6:40 PM.

The flight was forced to return to Abuja, where passengers endured further uncertainty as they waited for over 20 minutes to receive any communication from the airline. Eventually, they were informed of plans to provide a bus to transport them to a hotel for accommodation.

However, this promise was not fulfilled, leaving passengers stranded and scattered around the airport.

One passenger, who had already experienced delays with another airline earlier in the day, expressed frustration at the lack of accountability and protection for travelers.

Passengers for lagos to Portharcourt on Airpeace 2pm flight are still stranded in lagos as i am typing this reply at almost 10:30pm

This is bad.
The flight was delayed from 2pm to 7pm
We left and came back 7pm and till now we are still here stranded

— TUNDE* (@tundeideal) April 17, 2024

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by passengers in Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector and raises questions about the adequacy of regulations to safeguard passengers’ rights.

Attempts to reach Air Peace for comment on the situation were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

Travel

Emirates Halts Check-Ins Amid Severe Weather Disruption

Published

1 day ago

April 17, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Emirates, the largest international airline, has taken the unprecedented step of halting all passenger check-ins for the day.

The move comes as the emirate grapples with severe weather disturbances, including heavy rainfall and storms, leading to widespread travel chaos in one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.

The airline announced that check-ins for all passengers would be suspended from 8 am local time until midnight, as the adverse weather conditions continue to wreak havoc on travel plans.

Despite the disruption, Emirates assured that transit passengers would still be allowed to proceed to their connecting flights.

Dubai, known for its modern infrastructure and bustling aviation industry, has been brought to a standstill by the relentless rainfall and storms.

The inclement weather has resulted in delayed or diverted flights, leaving travelers stranded and adding to the existing challenges posed by the ongoing global pandemic.

Emirates has pledged to exert all efforts to restore its scheduled operations and provide support to affected customers amidst the chaos.

However, the extent of the disruption caused by the adverse weather conditions underscores the resilience and adaptability required to navigate unforeseen challenges in the aviation sector.

As the situation unfolds, authorities and airline personnel are working tirelessly to mitigate the impact of the severe weather on travel operations and ensure the safety and well-being of passengers.

Despite the temporary setback, Emirates remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of service excellence and operational efficiency, even in the face of unprecedented challenges posed by Mother Nature.

News

EFCC Recovers N32 Billion from Humanitarian Ministry Probe

Published

3 days ago

April 15, 2024

Samed Olukoya

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the recovery of a sum of N32 billion from its probe into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

This development comes amidst allegations of financial misappropriation and fraud involving high-ranking officials within the ministry.

The EFCC’s investigation, which initially focused on the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, has expanded to encompass a broader examination of financial transactions and practices within the ministry.

The probe was initiated following allegations of the unauthorized approval of N650 million payment into a private account linked to Edu.

President Bola Tinubu’s directive to investigate the allegations and the subsequent suspension of Edu from office underscore the seriousness of the matter. While Edu has denied any wrongdoing, the EFCC proceeded with its inquiry, leading to her detention and subsequent release on bail.

The agency’s investigation also extends to Edu’s predecessor, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, and the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIPA), Halima Shehu.

Allegations of financial impropriety totaling N37.1 billion and the movement of N44 billion from NSIPA accounts to suspicious private and corporate accounts have prompted scrutiny of their roles in the ministry.

In a statement released over the weekend, the EFCC disclosed that its investigations into the alleged fraud have yielded significant results, with the recovery of N32 billion and $445,000 thus far.

This substantial sum reflects the scale of financial irregularities uncovered during the course of the probe.

The EFCC emphasized that its investigation is not limited to individual officials but extends to a systemic examination of fraudulent practices within the ministry.

The agency highlighted the involvement of banks in facilitating the alleged fraud, with managing directors providing valuable information to investigators.

Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the EFCC, reiterated the agency’s commitment to thorough investigations and prosecution of individuals found culpable.

He emphasized that no one implicated in the fraud has been cleared, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the wrongdoing.

Beyond its efforts to combat corruption within government institutions, the EFCC is also intensifying its campaign against the abuse of the national currency and the dollarization of the economy.

The agency acknowledged the public’s support and involvement in reporting instances of currency abuse, signaling a growing awareness of the importance of preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.

As the EFCC continues its probe into the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the recovery of N32 billion underscores the magnitude of financial misconduct within the government.

With investigations ongoing and prosecutions imminent, the EFCC remains steadfast in its mission to uphold transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s public sector.