COVID-19 around the world: WHO recommends lifting international travel restrictions as England drops most restrictions

The UK prime minister has announced the lifting of restrictions introduced in England due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

The emergency committee convened by the WHO head over the coronavirus pandemic recommended lifting or easing restrictions on travel between countries. 

The recommendation was adopted following the committee's regular meeting held on January 19. 

The final statement says that restrictions on movement between countries only "contribute to the economic and social stress faced by states" but do not produce results.

"Countries should consider a risk-based approach to easing international travel by removing or changing measures such as testing and/or quarantine requirements, where appropriate, in line with WHO guidance," the message says. 

In addition, the emergency committee reiterated its recommendations concerning international travel. The WHO again urged that presenting proof of coronavirus vaccination not be made a mandatory condition for travel, including due to the unequal availability of vaccines across countries. 

The emergency committee believes that instead of requiring vaccination certificates, other measures should be applied more widely, such as testing or isolation/quarantine. 

The WHO believes such measures "should not create a financial burden for people traveling internationally." 

As of January 19, 333,826,529 coronavirus cases had been recorded worldwide. Over the past day, 3,350,536 new cases were confirmed.

Because of the pandemic, most countries in the world have introduced various restrictions on international travel, including mandatory vaccination requirements. 

England is dropping most restrictions

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that from January 26 restrictions introduced in England due to the spread of the Omicron variant will be lifted. 

Speaking in the House of Commons, Johnson said that, according to experts, the current wave of coronavirus spread has peaked nationally. 

The English authorities have left it to the organizers of certain events to decide whether to use COVID passes to admit people. The prime minister noted that the authorities will no longer recommend that residents work from home, so they should discuss returning to offices with their employers. 

Starting January 20, high school students will be able to go without masks in schools. He added that the government plans to scrap the requirement to isolate people who have tested positive for coronavirus. 

According to him, this requirement remains in force for now, but as the disease spreads it should become a recommendation. These rules expire on March 24. 

The Guardian writes that the lifting of most restrictions is seen as an attempt by Boris Johnson to placate members of parliament who are "angry" over reports of parties held at the prime minister's residence in London during the lockdown. 

We need to learn to live with coronavirus

The UK health secretary said the country must learn to live with coronavirus, as it may remain forever. 

Sajid Javid
UK health secretary

COVID is not going away. It will be with us for many years, perhaps forever, and we must learn to live with it. I think we are leading Europe on the path from pandemic to endemic, and we are leading in showing the world how one can live with COVID. 

He added that annual vaccination against coronavirus may be required, a day after the government announced an end to working from home and the lifting of many restrictions. 

Asked whether he wanted to compare coronavirus with the flu, the minister replied: "Yes, because it was an example of how we need to learn to live with COVID." 

"Unfortunately, people also die from flu. In a bad flu year you can lose around 20,000 lives, but we do not close our whole country or impose many restrictions to fight it. We must extend our lives with sensible and proportionate measures," Javid said.