Boris Johnson announced the end of Covid restrictions in England; international students anxious.

Boris Johnson announcing end of Covid restrictions. Source: CNN

On February 21, Boris Johnson declared that the pandemic is over and all legal restrictions will be lifted which made international students anxious.

UK Prime Minster says that vaccination levels are high and deaths are low hence all restrictions will be lifted. There will be phases and a roadmap to follow for the end of restrictions. Anyone who is tested positive for Covid will not need to mandatorily self-isolate.

Jannik Longin, 27, a German student said: “This is so unsafe, it makes me beyond anxious as we have just started to understand the complex virus, we do not know what long-term effects it may have.”

Johnson also said that carrying a Covid status certification is no longer required while travelling domestically in England.

Iris Landi, 21, an Italian student said: “Just because there are lesser number of deaths, it does not mean that we should no longer wear masks and not practice isolation. We cannot pretend that this threat has fully disappeared.”

Most students are worried that lifting all restrictions would fire back leading to higher number of positive cases and deaths which would eventually lead to online classes and ruin their university experience.

Rachet Juneja, 25, an Indian student said: “Ending all Covid restrictions would give everyone the liberty to go back to pre-pandemic lifestyle and pretend as if last two years never happened. Even though, it’s still recommended to follow the restriction rules and wear masks, the public holds the power and will choose not to.”

Pablo Andrades, 20, a Spanish student said: “Huge gatherings without following any rules or even wearing masks might shoot up positive cases which would risk my in-person classes. Online studying last year was distressing and underwhelming, I am not ready for anymore virtual learning.”

Although most people are vaccinated, international students are concerned that a complex virus like Covid might have a variant that the vaccine probably cannot fight or have long-term effects. This makes students anxious as they aren’t prepared for anymore of online university.