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# Why we must talk about ‘protections’ being lifted, not ‘restrictions’.
- URL: https://www.europeans.today/2022/02/24/why-we-must-talk-about-protections-being-lifted-not-restrictions/
- Published: 2022-02-24T02:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2022-02-24T19:19:53.000Z
- Description: “Time to remove all protective measures” is a lot harder to sell than “Time to remove all restrictions”, but it is the truth millions of people are experiencing every day. Language matters, a health expert explains.
- Author: TODAY
- Tags: COVID-19, Coronavirus, COVID-19 Protections, COVID-19 & Restrictions, Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV), Clinically Vulnerable (CV), Public Health, Psychology, Language Matters, Thread, United Kingdom, UK Media, UK Government

### “Time to remove all protective measures” is a lot harder to sell than “Time to remove all restrictions”, but it is the truth millions of people are experiencing every day. Language matters, a health expert explains.

  
###### First published: February 2022.

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/15/40/1540bec0-7154-4feb-b8e1-97f579155b08/content/images/2022/02/www-146.jpg) 

###### [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photos/passengers-face-mask-coronavirus-5711260/?ref=europeans.today)
  
  
### **[Professor Stephen Reicher](https://www.europeans.today/author/stephen-reicher), Professor of Social Psychology, School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) subcommittee on behavioural science:**

  
*“The Government have long described all COVID measures as COVID restrictions and the media have largely accepted this description.*

*“This allows them to remove support and protections under the guise of ‘ending lockdown’ and ‘setting us free’.*

*“However... as is particularly clear in the recent announcements to remove mask mandates, remove funds for self-isolation and remove free tests, when you take away support and protection, you actually reduce choice for the vulnerable and the poor (who can’t afford to keep themselves safe).*

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*“We thereby create a situation in which the rhetoric of ‘removing restrictions’ creates a reality in which restrictions are increased for those who are not privileged.*

*“So, whenever we hear the term ‘removing restrictions’ and whenever an interviewer asks a question about the impact of ‘removing restrictions’ it needs to be challenged.*

*“For once you have accepted the Government framing, you have denied the experience of the people.”*

*— Source: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ReicherStephen/status/1496401365454704642?ref=europeans.today).*

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##### Sources

**Text:** This piece was first published in PMP Magazine on 24 February 2022. 
- **Cover:** Adobe Stock/[annebel146](https://stock.adobe.com/uk/476063555?asset%5Fid=476063555&ref=europeans.today).