So, is the lockdown actually going to be lifted before summer?

[Mummypig2020]

News are constantly staying it’s too soon to discuss the lockdown being lifted.

Is it going to be before summer?

[pocketem]

No

[Hester54]

I would be surprised if its lifted at all before mid to end of May, its a situation now of health before wealth and when is the tipping point

[ssd]

I think after this coming 3 weeks another 3 weeks will be ordered.

[Mummypig2020]

Do you think it will be lifted before the summer holidays?

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

By the May bank holiday at the latest.

[Cary2012]

I don't know.
You don't know.
No one knows.
BoJo doesn't know.
It depends on trends in behaviour and trials. And the scientists analysing data.

[justdontatme]

I can’t imagine that we will have a normal summer holiday with trips away, days out etc, but I don’t think we will be in the same level of lockdown as now - I think there will be some interacting etc allowed as they try to infect more of us bit by bit

[AnyFucker]

We don't know. The govt doesn't know. Nobody knows

[Bridecilla]

Nobody knows! Take it one day at a time..

[hamstersarse]

I absolutely hope so!!

We have a whole world of new pain coming if we don't start paying some consideration to the economy

[Itisasecret]

It’s not looking good, not when the WHO have just basically said, small positive signs in Europe, but not the UK. I think the term dark cloud was used. The press is responsible for leading a unrealistic campaign and false hope in my opinion.

[virginpinkmartini]

I think the gov may well have an idea of what the plan is, but don't want to divulge anything because some individuals will see it as a green light to start taking miles because they've been given an inch.

[ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]

We have to get back to normal eventually so yes I think it will.

[Scottishgirl85]

Yes the current lockdown will be lifted before the summer holidays! That's over 3 months away. There may be some restrictions still in place, but we will not be in the current situation in 3 months time.

[LimitIsUp]

You can track the general direction of travel by reading the quality newspapers. There is a lot of discussion about exit strategies and what this might look like - this hasn't happened in a vacuum. Its picking up on what policy advisers, scientists, epidemiologists and economists have been discussing

The government are talking about (very) cautiously about green shoots and a possible plateauing of the peak.

Various government advisers are mooting ideas for partially lifting some of the restrictions and phased reopening of sectors of the economy - not right now, but in the near-ish future.

You can see what other European countries are doing who enforced their lockdown before us. We are not particularly inventive and will probably follow suit

Its going to be a gradual process with social distancing remaining important for a long while but I would be stunned if we didn't see some changes by June

The plan has always been to protect NHS capacity not to lockdown until a vaccine has developed

[BearSoFair]

Lockdown at the level it is now I think will be over. At least for the first period, very realistic chance that we could have to do it again further down the line. But I think there will still be restrictions on large events and gatherings for quite a few months afterwards and probably a certain amount of social distancing guidelines still in effect too.

[MaxNormal]

I think the gov may well have an idea of what the plan is, but don't want to divulge anything

Not according to various sources in Whitehall. Apparently there is no plan.

[BilboBercow]

It'll be lifted by the end of May although it won't be straight back to business as usual. I imagine a gradual loosening of the regulations

[HuloBeraal]

We don’t know. Friends in HK have been off school since January. And they are still off.
We can’t mind read what the govt wants to do. And over and above that this is a constantly changing situation.
But logically speaking it is likely that it will be lifted BUT there will be some form of social distancing till the vaccine. So supermarket restrictions, no big family groups, limited domestic and international travel, no mass gatherings or sporting events etc.

[HoffiCoffi13]

Who knows?
The government may have an idea in mind, but they can’t possibly know for sure. It will all depend on the numbers.

[HuloBeraal]

Having said that the U.K. lockdown is v severe (much more than where I am and we are in Week 6 of this). This is because when looser regulations were attempted people took the piss. So if that happens, more severe restrictions may have to be reimposed.

[SleepingStandingUp]

Yes, they can't afford to keep the duvet gone for that long.
Schools will be back after Whit Week I reckon, small businesses, self employed etc too then slowly back to normal by summer so the 2nd peak isn't too late

[Twigletfairy]

Everyone can speculate all day long but it's all just guesswork at this point.

[coconuttelegraph]

No one knows, this repeated question is really getting tedious, on and on and on of people saying the same thing.

Why would anyone think a poster on a forum knows the answer when the government don't know. Some people will no doubt say a date that turns out to be the correct date but it isn't because they know now.

I could post 20 different dates in 20 different user names - how would that help you?

[Jollypolly999]

My money is shops reopen in may, schools go back 1st week of June and social distancing is forgotten about at the same times, because a school playground doesnt allow for 2m between each child (Even at drop off/pickup time with adults !!!)

Germany managed to contain the spread and have started easing off their lockdown procedures and I think kids are due back in May.

Hopefully today's figures wont be high as anticipated.