United Kingdom Is Ending Vaccine Mandates And Other COVID-19 Restrictions

The United Kingdom at times had become as draconian as Canada and Blue states in the United States when it came to vaccine mandates, but it seems like the United Kingdom under the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson is finally surrendering to the fact the government cannot control COVID-19, especially by undermining individual rights. 

This is a major turnaround seeing as Johnson was among the several other world leaders at the 2021 G7 Summit in Cornwall that saw no problem with COVID restrictions and mask mandates while he ignored his own rules in full view of the international media.

Prime Minister Johnson stated regarding isolation requirements that:

There will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, just as we don’t place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu.

It is a statement that seems absurd to have to make but it is important that elected officials, especially those in the political establishment, are starting to make the case against the ridiculous government restrictions. 

Despite Florida, Sweden, and other jurisdictions proving getting rid of restrictions, lockdowns,  mask mandates, and dissuading private businesses from implementing vaccine mandates makes little to no different to cases of COVID-19 few other western countries have backed off their failing policies. Johnson, in doing what he did, even if late, could help cause a worldwide tipping point on the public’s opinion of restrictions.

Johnson said “We will trust the judgment of the British people and no longer criminalize anyone who chooses not to wear one,” which is an absolutely acceptable stance every government should have on measures to protect yourself against virus or disease. Frankly, there seems to be very little evidence that cloth or surgical masks significantly prevent the spread of COVID-19 but if the government wants to simply recommend masking that is perfectly ok, and people can make their own choice. 

UK Health Minister Sajid Javid also verbally acknowledged that the government cannot “eradicate” COVID-19 and that people need to learn to live with the virus. 

Javid stated:

But it’s not the end of the road and we shouldn’t see this as the finish line because we cannot eradicate this virus and its future variants…Instead we must learn to live with Covid in the same way we have to live with flu.

If only in Canada the supposedly Conservative opposition in Parliament or Conservative Premiers would stand against restrictive and unconstitutional policies the way the establishment Conservatives are in the United Kingdom. 

Unlike in Canada the UK’s Conservative Party and dissident voices that over the past year and a half had been criticizing the overbearing approach the government was taking for dealing with COVID-19 which over time has proven to be effective at changing the government’s policy.

It would be a great time for Canadian politicians who care about civil liberties to grow at least have a backbone and follow the lead of Boris Johnson on this issue, but maybe that is still asking too much.