News Round-Up
26 July 2024
Government Has Just Declared War on Free Speech
26 July 2024
by Toby Young
The pandemic has finally been declared over in Germany – but freedom will never be the same, because now we know it can be withdrawn whenever a sufficiently 'scary' virus is at large.
The British people, along with the populations of many US states, have henceforth to live with the fact that liberties we call ‘inalienable’ can be cancelled at a moment’s notice for years on end, writes Lionel Shriver.
The Government of South Africa has announced the end of all Covid restrictions in what it describes as a "very historic day" and a "turning point since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the world and in the country".
People in Wales will no longer be legally required to wear face coverings in health and social care services from Monday as the final UK legal restriction is lifted. But Mark Drakeford says they're really "on hold".
Covid levels continued to drop in England last week, falling to their lowest levels since the start of December before Omicron took off. ONS data also suggest BA.2 may be half as deadly as BA.1.
An article in the Guardian says Boris's decision to minimise Covid restrictions in England on July 19th 2021 and lift them entirely on February 24th 2022 has been vindicated. Scotland, Wales and NI all fared worse.
The UK's daily Covid statistics were axed on Monday as the country moves forward in the pandemic, moving to publishing twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. England's data will continue to appear daily.
Emergency powers brought in to tackle Covid will be consigned to history, Health Secretary Sajid Javid assured MPs today, saying he does not "envisage" ever having to bring back the Coronavirus Act.
The Sunday Times has done a volte face on lockdown restrictions, now praising Boris for ignoring the warnings about lifting restrictions last year. Has it forgotten its own role in signal boosting those warnings?
Unions and scientists have denounced Boris Johnson's announcement that self-isolation rules will end, as a poll shows three quarters of the public want them to continue, half say forever, while just 17% support the move.
© Skeptics Ltd.