Will the last of the restrictions be lifted on June 21st, or are we heading into the path of another wave of Rona infections and a further lockdown?
The prediction is that the number of new daily cases would have risen to 15,000 by the time Boris is due to make his announcement. If this is indeed true then we could be stuffed for the time being. With the best will in the world it might be difficult for the Government to lift lockdown on that date if the R rate keeps rising exponentially.
However, I think that the British public now have lockdown fatigue. Around our way it’s all back to normal as far as I can tell. Cinemas, shops and pubs are open again, although there’s one pub in our village which has stayed closed since March 2020. It will be due to open again on June 21st, and the landlord is keeping his fingers crossed.
Will people take heed of a further lockdown? I’m not so sure. Summer’s here, and the time is right for dancing on the beach. My 16 year old granddaughter has her very first summer job interview in a coffee shop today, and she for one is going to be gutted if the coffee shop has to close.
I’m rather glad I do not have the burden of responsibility sitting on my shoulders as to whether I open up the economy for good or close it down. Boris seems to be weathering it all very well; all he has to do is blame the scientists for any decision he has to make. The scientists will blame the rising R rate, and whoop-de-do, here we all go again to los living room for the duration.
What would you do in Boris’ shoes? I think I would look at the number of people in hospital and the number of deaths. If they’re steady and the NHS is not overwhelmed then I would open up the economy and tell people to be on their guard. After all, many of us are vaccinated now, and we have to live with quite a selection of other viruses in the community. The number of people with influenza and the common cold rises and falls as the seasons pass. I think it’s a case of living with it, using our common sense, and making our own decisions about wearing masks and mixing with people we do not know.
Stevie Turner 
We’re all in the same boat. We were supposed to open 2 weeks ago. They only opened stage 1 yesterday – outdoor dining and store with 15% capacity. Most people are Covid fatigued already and eager to start living. But I know UK numbers are rising so be careful xx
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Yes, about 7500 new cases per day here now. Not good. x
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Wowwwwwwww. Stay safe! x
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You too! x
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❤
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Here in America, I’ve done everything they’ve asked. I’m vaccinated and still I’m treated like an infectious super-spreader. Fatigue doesn’t begin to describe how I feel!
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Things are starting to open up where we are. I worry as the summer is coming and people are craving social time… I really hope that there is not a fourth wave in the fall. Stay safe xx
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You too, Christy.
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We are in the middle of the third wave here, Stevie. The vaccine roll out here has been slow so there are not a lot of vaccinated people although my mom and aunt had their first Phizer jabs today. This wave seems much worse than the ones last year. People are getting covid for a second time and are much more sick this time around. Whole families, including young kids, are getting very sick. I can’t say what Britain should do, but we are all staying home now voluntarily. We have to wear masks by law, but lots of people do it half heartedly and they are not careful and do not social distance.
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Sorry to hear this, Robbie. It’s terrible for us all.
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The recent spike in cases of the Indian Variant does seem to be concentrated around the north-west, in places like Bolton. It was also reported that most of the people admitted to hospital recently have not had any vaccinations. I think this is a cultural situation in particular groups of people, and I believe we should have waited until September to open up, and not allowed overseas travel until next year.
However, the other side of the argument is that so many businesses have prepared to fully open on the 21st, it would be economically disastrous to change the date now.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I agree that overseas travel should not happen this year, but the airlines would be up in arms if told that. The Bolton issue was very tactfully described, lol.
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Always careful about describing things online. Not quite so reserved when I am talking to my wife about it!
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Lol!
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Living where it’s “open”, at least for Covid, a good many people still wear masks. I wear mine grocery shopping, public areas of buildings, etc. I even took a trip to a neighboring state a couple of weeks ago, stayed in a not so many stars motel, no ill effects. The Pfizer is 88% effective against the new variant and I try to avoid really packed with stupid people environments. What someone said above -get your shot and live with it. The cool thing about the masks and all that hand sanitizer is the only thing that bothers me now is allergies. On one hand I think it’s silly to “open up” but on the other I say get back to business, do your best to protect yourself, ring out your dead, next.
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As much as I hate nosebags, I think you’re right in that we have to wear them, use sanitiser, and avoid crowds. We can’t keep the economy closed down forever.
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Johnson claims to follow the science, but it usually takes him weeks before he gets around to it. So many scientists are saying that the new wave should cause the lifting of restrictions that I think he should listen now. And he has his attempts to start war with the EU to deal with, too. If only he were remotely qualified for the job…
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Cause…to be delayed…oops!
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Trouble is… who is qualified? It’s all ‘unprecedented’ (I hate that word!).
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Therein lies the problem. None of the current crop of politicians – of any persuasion – fill me with confidence.
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They’re all too busy looking after Number One, living off expenses, and making sure their friends/families’ businesses win the million pound tenders.
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Quite. I can’t ever recall such a poor bunch. Inept, cronyism, corruption.
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I think most people might be happy to keep a few restrictions like still wear masks in public places indoors and keep a distance – all these places are now organised for that. Nervous or vulnerable people self police anyway; they are sure to keep their masks on and not go out much. Whether the poor people that have to work all day in masks through the summer should have to continue is another matter.
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I think I’ll still keep my mask on at work. It’s horrible in the heat, but I have a little fan that plugs into the computer and is really very efficient.
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Yes, it’s a tough decision although some states in the US have been ‘open’ for months and seem to be doing okay. Unfortunately, there seems to be a heavy dose of politics involved at every level, but there always is that, for better or worse. Bottom line, for freedom loving people, you can’t keep us locked down interminably.
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Oh, that sounds not very good, with the rising infections, and the new strain. Lets hope the G7 meeting will bring a solution. Your PM now is married. Lets hope the influence of his wife is strong enough. 😉 Best wishes, Stevie! xx Michael
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I think it was strong enough before he got married, lol.
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Lol – You are a very wicked one, Stevie! 😉 xx Enjoy a beautiful weekend! Michael
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You too, Michael.
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I look at the US and I see crowds at sports events with no masks in sight. I know that their vaccine roll-out was fairly rapid, but with the amount of vaccine hesitancy, is it really that safe? In Canada, there are places fighting a fourth wave, spurred on by the Delta variant, and many businesses are still shut down or at limited capacity. Masks are still mandatory in public places, an gatherings have strict limits.
There is a fine line between safety and economics (and lockdown fatigue). Too fast, too soon?
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It’s difficult for sure with businesses clamouring for lockdown to end. I suspect we’ll still have to wear masks and not meet in large groups indoors.
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