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The news was made known through a statement from Buckingham Palace. The 95-year-old monarch only has “mild symptoms, similar to those of a cold.” According to the British Royal House, the result will not prevent the queen from continuing to carry out “light tasks” on her agenda.
The announcement about the health of the nonagenarian queen, Elizabeth II, was released this Sunday. The same statement stressed that the queen “will continue to receive medical care and follow all appropriate guidelines.” After the meeting that the monarch held with her eldest son, Charles of Wales, two days before the prince tested positive for Covid, the contagion of the head of state was feared as a possibility.
In this context, the number of doses of vaccines applied to the president is not public knowledge, although the British media assume that three injections have been inoculated, after the first one was administered at the beginning of last year.
The sovereign resumed her official activities five days ago. She even received two high-ranking military officers in person at Windsor Castle. At the meeting, Isabel used a cane and responded to concerns about her health with “well, as you can see, I can’t move,” pointing to her left leg.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other political leaders and personalities of the nation echoed the news immediately, wishing the veteran monarch a speedy recovery.
I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from Covid and a rapid return to vibrant good health.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 20, 2022
Troubled season in the Royal House
The news of the queen’s contagion comes in a convulsive season for the Real home. The health of Isabel II, who has always shown good physical condition, has been affected since last October she spent a night in hospital. On that occasion she underwent some “preliminary examinations”, without giving more details of the ailment that affected her. From that moment on, her public acts have been infrequent.
What’s more. the scandal of her son, Prince Andrew, accused of sexual abuse, made the queen take action and withdraw all military titles and personally assume those responsibilities. In a statement, it was made known that the Duke of York would not assume any public function and that he would defend himself in the case as a private citizen. Weeks later, Andrés reached an agreement with his alleged victim.
Another negative blow to the sovereign was the death of her husband, Philip of Edinburgh, after 73 years of marriage. Elizabeth’s consort was hospitalized for 28 days and died, after being discharged, at Windsor Castle at the age of 99. The chief physician at Buckingham Palace assured days later that the Duke of Edinburgh had died due to his advanced age and not due to a specific illness.
UK to remove restrictions
Hours after the news about the queen’s health condition was known, it was learned that Prime Minister Johnson will present this Monday, February 21, the plans arranged to eliminate the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The strategy is part of the “Living with Covid” project, which aims to give the British economy a break. Under the plans, Britain will become one of the first nations to allow infected people to lead normal lives.
Covid will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms. 1/3
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 20, 2022
In this sense, medical leaders have recommended to the head of government not to get “enthusiastic” about the country’s health and advisers to the Executive have said that eliminating restrictions could lead to a rapid growth in infections.
According to the British Government, some surveillance systems and plans for contingency measures will be maintained if a new variant appears. When asked if he was taking a risk with the pandemic, the boss of 10 Downing Street stated that the Government could not continue spending 2,000,000 pounds, about 2,700 million dollars, a month on tests.
With EFE and Reuters