Pandemic
restrictions were lifted in England on Monday despite scientists and opposition
parties warning the British government against the same. From midnight, local
time, nightclubs reopened while other indoor establishments were allowed to
operate at full capacity with no social distancing norms required.

Additionally,
wearing masks is no longer mandatory for citizens with remote working rules also
scrapped. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is self-isolating after health
minister Sajid Javid tested positive for COVID-19, has asked the public to
remain cautious and get themselves vaccinated.

“If we don’t do it now, then we’ll be
opening up in the autumn, the winter months, when the virus has the advantage
of the cold weather,” he said in defence of what is being called ‘Freedom Day’
by some sections of the media.

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The reopening comes with daily infections
topping 50,000 in Britain, behind only Brazil and Indonesia, amid fears of
contagious variants leading fresh waves of cases.

“If we don’t do it now, we’ve got to ask
ourselves, when will we ever do it? So this is the right moment, but we’ve got
to do it cautiously,” he said, adding that this week’s start of summer break
for schools was a “precious firebreak”.

Meanwhile, Labour Party’s health spokesperson
Jonathan Ashworth said that the government was being “reckless” and that his
party was “against opening up without precautions in place”. The comments were
in line with warnings from experts who say the event can lead to a global outbreak.