Sky News looks at attitudes to coronavirus in the UK compared to other parts of Europe after the NHS Confederation warned the government must reimpose restrictions following a 16% rise in cases and 10% spike in hospital admissions.
Here Sky News looks at whether the UK is being too relaxed onSince 19 July in England, face masks and social distancing have only been a legal requirement in health and social care settings.
Since the launch of the"passe sanitaire" in France in August, other EU states have adopted similar strict rules, including mandatory face masks in most public spaces.While the proportion of people wearing face masks in the UK is similar to some Western European countries - such as Germany - Imperial College London's behaviour tracker shows a smaller percentage of people are avoiding public spaces in the UK than elsewhere.
Professor Frank Furedi, sociologist at the University of Kent, claims there has been a"big shift in public opinion in recent months".He believes people are"prepared to trade off some of the risks of COVID for keeping their freedoms"."And most importantly people are realising the damage COVID has done to the economy - with shortages and supply chain issues etc.
Despite cases approaching 50,000 a day, Number 10 claims the vaccine programme has weakened the link between spiralling infections and numbers dying.Professor Furedi describes the UK government's decision to no longer mandate mask wearing and social distancing as"libertarian". Third doses are being offered to the over-50s, health and social care workers and the clinically vulnerable, but some experts have warned uptake is slowing and overall immunity is waning.
The NHS Confederation claims there is"overwhelming evidence that we need to act" beyond current measures.
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