UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that the millions of jabs given over the past few months were not key to the reduction in COVID levels.
Speaking in 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, barely two days after the latest easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK, Johnson indicated it was the national shutdown that had been “overwhelmingly important” in driving down Covid 19 rates.
“But it is very, very important for everybody to understand that the reduction in these numbers – in hospitalizations and in deaths and infections – has not been achieved by the vaccination program,” said Johnson
“People don’t, I think, appreciate that it’s the lockdown that has been overwhelmingly important in delivering this improvement in the pandemic and in the figures that we’re seeing,” he added.
Meanwhile, The Prime Minister was quick to point out that as the United Kingdom continues to ease Covid 19 restrictions, the result will inevitably be that the region will see more infection, more hospitalization, and deaths, and people have just got to understand that.
However, Johnson appealed to the people that it is important that they continue to be cautious and continue to exercise restraint and just do the basic things for instance washing their hands, giving people plenty of space to stop the further spread of the virus in the region.
The prime minister added that “at the moment” he couldn’t see “any reason” to change his roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions.
The next stage of the roadmap, on 17 May, will allow restaurants and pubs to resume indoor service and see most rules on gathering outdoors lifted.
Nearly 40 million vaccine doses have now been given across the UK, with those aged between 45 to 49 years of age now able to book their jab appointments.
