British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that the possibility of getting a vaccine against coronavirus is about a year away and may have never received a vaccine to control it. In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection in the UK, the Prime Minister introduced a plan to gradually reopen the business with protection from Covid-19, while issuing a 50-page new guideline on the orderly removal of the lockdown implemented. In this, the emphasis is on maintaining social distance and exercising one’s discretion when the economy opens. The Prime Minister said, ‘There is more than a year left in vaccination or treatment on a large scale’. He also outlined the work done by scientists at Oxford University and Imperial College London to find a cure. He said, ‘In the worst-case scenario we may never get a vaccine. Therefore, our plan should be to deal with such a situation so that with all the work done, the consequences of infection can be avoided.
Johnson accepted that vaccine or drug-based treatment is the only permanent solution. He said that the UK has stepped up its efforts to develop a reliable vaccine and has partnered with Oxford University and pharma company Astragenesa which will help in the rapid production of Covid-19 vaccine when it is developed. As part of the global effort, they have arranged £ 388 million for research to develop vaccines, screening and treatment, of which 250 million pounds are for the Pandemic Preparation Innovation Alliance.
Disclosing plans to phase out the lockdown in a phased manner from this week, he said, “Though we are hopeful of success, the hope is not the plan”. After addressing the nation on Sunday night through television and making a statement in Parliament on Monday, the guidelines will come into force across England from Wednesday and people will get a chance to meet other people apart from being at home but making a distance of two meters in the meantime Will be Nearly six weeks after the lockdown comes into force, people in the UK will be allowed to play outside, mingle with friends and family members.
The guideline recommends that if possible, people should work from home and go to the office or place of work only when needed, such as in construction and production units, and during this time follow social distance. Non-essential goods shops will also be allowed to reopen next month in a phased manner under the lockdown. At the same time, barbers shops, pubs and cinemas will open from July. However, on the short notice of the ban on Covid-19, the restrictions can be implemented again. For violation of the guidelines, the fine has been increased to 100 pounds and for repeated violations, a maximum penalty of 3200 pounds can be imposed.
The Prime Minister requested to be patient despite the disruption in normal life. He said that the worst situation could be that the virus is not under control and it has to be paid for by life and strict restrictions which will affect the economy. We have to be vigilant, control the virus and save the lives of people while doing so. Johnson said, “When the vaccine and medicine become available, we will enter the next stage where we will learn to live with Covid-19 for a long time without being affected by life”.
