World watching as 'freedom day' flops in England
Country is heading into what is forecast to be the biggest recorded wave of infections since the pandemic began.
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AS England cast aside this week almost all its remaining Covid restrictions, the world is watching the experiment to see whether it shows a pathway back towards "normality", or a new warning that even heavily vaccinated countries are not out of the crisis.
England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned last week of a potential new lockdown as soon as next month. Yet, the UK government nonetheless cast aside the nation's remaining legal coronavirus framework while heading into what is forecast to be the biggest recorded wave of infections since the pandemic began in coming weeks.
The decision has been a very tough one to make for Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is himself in coronavirus self-isolation this week. While many businesses have welcomed the move away from legal restrictions to allow people to make their own decisions about how to manage the virus, some have been critical of the government's decision to end the mandatory requirement to use face coverings in places like shops and hospitality venues like pubs.
