Editor's note: Thomas O. Falk is a London-based political analyst and commentator. He holds a Master of Arts in international relations from the University of Birmingham and specializes in U.S. affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

One struggles to find the logic in lifting all coronavirus restrictions in England in a single day. Not only does the move put other countries in a difficult position, but it is also a risky experiment for the British people themselves. Genuine questions remain.

The announcement has rightly triggered a storm of indignation against UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Doctors, unions, mayors and the opposition have particularly criticized the decision. Nonetheless, the British government will proceed with its plan.

The outcry came a day after Johnson confirmed that the remaining coronavirus measures in England should be lifted on July 19. These include social distancing rules and mask requirements. Nightclubs and discos will be able to reopen. Audience restrictions for events will be obsolete.

Opposition leader Keir Starmer rightfully pointed out the obvious: It's all about "headlines" and "soundbites," yet again. Indeed, there is no logic in determining how to deal with the virus on specific days. Johnson himself even said that this crisis was about data in the statistical sense, not about data in the calendar.

Despite the enormous number of daily cases reported – over 32,000 new cases reported as of July 7 – the number of seriously ill patients and mortalities is only increasing by a small extent. Over 64 percent of the adult population has received their second dose of vaccine – a welcome sign.

However, the battle is far from over. Once the mask mandate is lifted, in the crowded London Underground, for instance, the number of cases will inevitably increase. Even the new UK Health Minister Health Secretary Sajid Javid said, "As we ease and go into the summer, we expect [the daily cases] to rise significantly and they could go as high as 100,000." The rapidly spreading and highly contagious delta variant is another factor.

A clear discrepancy between the government's plan and the data seems apparent.

Most people would probably agree that ditching masks and returning to everyday life is an appealing goal. However, the foundation for taking these steps needs to be present. Right now, far too many questions remain unanswered. Far too many people remain vulnerable.

For instance, while a double vaccination is considered good protection against severe cases, including against the delta variant, proof of vaccination on paper is by no means vaccination protection. At least one and a half months (four weeks minimum or 10-12 with AstraZeneca, Britain's primary vaccine) are required between the first and second doses, plus the two weeks that are then considered necessary for the vaccination to take full effect. Moreover, there appears to be an utter lack of open discourse on the fact that risks remain, even after the double vaccination.

A vaccine offer for everyone does not equate to a jab per se. Vaccine hesitancy remains a serious topic in the UK. And what about those who do not take the jab for other reasons? Those who fall behind are often economically deprived, don't have a general practitioner or for whatever reason are unable to book appointments online. These individuals are at the mercy of the pandemic, despite the UK's overall positive record in vaccinating its population.

But the lifting of restrictions also impacts other nations. July 19 occurs during the summer holiday period. Many people will likely go on vacation, as Johnson recently noted. What sunbathing, possibly delta-variant carrying Brits could mean for other countries seems to be an afterthought.

A complete opening only makes sense if it considers the community and individuals. Otherwise a country that opens for everyone occurs at the expense of the individual, especially the vulnerable ones. The radical lifting of all restrictions at once puts England into an awkward position in the eyes of the global community in the coming weeks and months – a mad scientist testing a risky experiment for all parties involved.  

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