UK’s Javid confident over July reopening despite COVID surge

New UK health minister says England on course to lift remaining COVID restrictions by July 19, even as infections soar.

The United Kingdom’s new health secretary said he is confident that England is on track to remove the country’s remaining coronavirus restrictions on July 19, despite fears over a new surge in infections. Sajid Javid told parliament on Monday that a a rapid vaccination roll-out is “breaking the link” between soaring infection numbers and serious illnesses and deaths, and that “the restrictions on our freedoms must come to an end”. His confident tone came despite widespread concerns about a third surge in infections in the UK driven by the spread of the more contagious Delta variant. Government figures on Monday showed another big spike in infections, with 22,868 confirmed cases.