Britain starts easing curbs, other nations battle surges

LONDON: Britain was to partially lift coronavirus restrictions Monday, reopening shops, gyms, pub gardens and hairdressers, while India moved to ban exports of a virus treatment drug as a record surge of cases overwhelms its healthcare system.

The contrast in their fortunes comes as other nations grapple with mounting cases and vaccine rollouts hampered by health, efficacy and as the global death toll tops 2.9 million.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the easing as a “major step” towards normal life resuming in the country once the worst affected in Europe, following a successful vaccination campaign and lockdown measures that have cut deaths by 95 percent and cases by 90 percent from January highs.

But India, the world’s second-most populous country, has experienced a sharp rise in cases after several weeks of religious festivals, campaign rallies and lax mask-wearing. 

Concerns over the side effects and effectiveness of tested and approved vaccines continue to rattle nerves elsewhere. 

Australia abandoned its goal to inoculate almost its entire population by the end of the year after new medical advice that people under 50 should take Pfizer’s vaccine instead of AstraZeneca over a potential link to blood clots.

Fears over the effectiveness of the vaccine manufactured by China’s Sinovac were brushed aside by Beijing on Sunday after a top disease control official suggested the country’s vaccines “don’t have very high rates of protection”.

In Asia, almost 40 Thai provinces introduced new restrictions for people travelling from Bangkok and other coronavirus hotspots ahead of a holiday travel period, as the capital grapples with soaring infections.

Japan on Monday imposed new virus measures on Tokyo to bring down surging cases less than 100 days before the 2020 Olympic Games begin.

It also started vaccinating the elderly as the country’s inoculation programme, criticised for its slow pace, kicked up a gear. Vaccines will be offered to people aged 65 or older.

So far, just 1.1 million people have had at least a first dose of vaccine in Japan, with only the Pfizer formula so far approved.

On Monday, Italy was to lift its lockdown in Lombardy, its worst-hit region, and several other regions with improving contagion statistics.

The regions will be reclassified from “red zone” areas to “orange” areas, where people face fewer travel curbs, shops can reopen, although a ban on dining in bars and restaurants remains.

Ireland was on Monday to ease restrictions for the first time this year after more than 100 days of lockdown, while Slovenia will ease coronavirus restrictions and suspend a six-month-long curfew.