Do you think they will extend the lockdown or stick with 21st June As Freedom day?

[ihatebindweed]

I hope they don't extend, because it moves the goalposts and then could lead to another extension. As it optional to go to certain places like clubs, when they open, then people vaccinated or not can make their choice.

I sadly think they will extend it and ruin my party planned for the end of June.

[RedcurrantPuff]

Of course they will. Everything is always “just a few weeks more” and then when that comes yet another convenient excuse as to why the changes can’t be made, so “just a few weeks more”

Rinse and repeat.

[ColettesEarrings]

We're not in a lockdown so it can't be extended. That aside, delaying the final stage of 21st June could be entirely sensible friending on the numbers in the next two weeks.

[RobertsWonder]

I think we are being tee-ed up for it to be changed from 21st, with everything rhay us being said in the press and matt Hancock on the news this eve. So I wouldn't be surprised at all, unfortunately.

[PurpleDaisies]

It’s not a lockdown now.

[BruceAndNosh]

I think they'll half.arse it by relaxing some things but not all

[TokyoSushi]

I think it will still be 'Freedom Day' as there's been so much hype about it but there will be a lot of small print so to speak...

'Freedom Day' but you still need to wear masks, distance, etc etc, largely it'll likely not be much different from now.

[crumpet]

I think they are warming us up to expect an extension

[MarcelineMissouri]

I think and hope it will be extended. To me it would make more sense to try for the end of July when schools will break up, as that means there should be a bit more leeway for other mixing. And of course more people vaccinated.

I don’t say that lightly as dh industry remains hugely impacted and I personally can’t wait to get back to ‘normal’ but it would be far far worse to have to roll back on some of the things that are already open again than it would be to postpone more change for a little longer.

[StealthPolarBear]

I think we'll be allowed to take our masks off in garden centres and airports.
As a pp says, just a few more weeks... ad infinitum.

[ihatebindweed]

@PurpleDaisies

It’s not a lockdown now.

Well ok, it's lockdown of certain things and reduced capacity of others which I find more pleasant but not as good for the bottom line.

[Gorkastalker]

I think they'll extend the status quo for a few more weeks.

[Pyewackect]

They'll slip it at least 2 weeks, maybe 4. It depends on the data, especially ICU admissions. Hopefully the vaccination programme will offer sufficient protection to manage the numbers. Difficult decision though.

[ihatebindweed]

@Pyewackect

They'll slip it at least 2 weeks, maybe 4. It depends on the data, especially ICU admissions. Hopefully the vaccination programme will offer sufficient protection to manage the numbers. Difficult decision though.

But the numbers are low, as in hospitalisations. I don't get it, has it changed from protect the NHS to eradicate Covid ?? Or are there only 4 intensive care bed in the whole UK? I know it's less ICU beds than you'd think in each hospital.

I'm disappointed as it's another wasted year if it gets extended. I just wanted to have a party to celebrate my wedding, which no one was allowed to come to. I'd break the rules and do a slightly more than allowed garden party, but I only have a courtyard. It's so hard to know what you can look forward to. My honeymoon abroad has been cancelled too.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

I to hope and think it will be extended. There’s plenty of freedom already so we aren’t locked away like before.
Local cases are rising and we had dropped to a low rate only a few weeks ago.
Cases are rising rapidly and plenty still aren’t vaccinated or only half way through jabs.

[Pyewackect]

But the numbers are low, as in hospitalisations. I don't get it, has it changed from protect the NHS to eradicate Covid ?? Or are there only 4 intensive care bed in the whole UK? I know it's less ICU beds than you'd think in each hospital.

Half our ICU beds are occupied with Covid patients, all are under 40 !.

[HarveySchlumpfenburger]

How can they ‘stick’ with a date they never set. I realise some of the media weren’t very careful about the reporting, but the road map announcement was quite clear that there were no specific dates set for any of the stages.

Boris has got a lot wrong, but I’m not sure the government can be completely blamed for a collective lack of comprehension by the English public.

[RhubarbCustardy]

I too think they will and hope they extend it. Be great if everyone was vaccinated to at least give us the chance to return to some near chance of normality.

[BruceAndNosh]

21st June was always the earliest date they would consider further relaxations, not the date

[Malteser71]

Pye

Where is your ICU half occupied with patients under 40?

I don’t actually believe you. DH is an ITU consultant in a major city. He has ONE patient with covid aged 64 who refused the vaccine.

[User1234123]

They'll push it back by a few weeks IMO.

All the signs are pointing at the fact that once everyone is double vaxxed, the impact of Covid drops off hugely, and that hospitalisations and deaths aren't surging.

They know they can't hard lockdown again so I can understand their hesitancy. Same with the travel rules, massively over cautious but you can see why they're doing it, they've been burned so many times by their mistakes.

Naturally the longer you leave it, the more vaccine protection the UK gets, but obviously there needs to be some point where we decide that the risk is worth absorbing for the sake of people's liberties and freedoms.

[UrbanRambler]

I agree with others who think they will delay for a couple more weeks, and I think that would be wise. We are very close to having herd immunity and a couple more weeks of restrictions will buy time to maximise vaccinations, which might avoid a nasty surge in cases.

Once the majority of the population is vaccinated we will have to accept that variations will occur and that each year there will be some deaths from Covid, along with flu, but boosters will be available yearly to minimise the numbers. The new reality won't be perfect, but we are very lucky to have several viable vaccines and I'm very grateful to have received my jabs.

[CrownKettle]

I think it’ll be a few weeks after 21 June which was always the earliest date.

[Watapalava]

It absolutely should not be extended and people asking for it are like sheep just giving away our rights

Protect the nhs is all we'va heard all year - the NHS is protected, cases are up but hospitalisations are down because those infected are younger and aren't suffering enough to be admitted - admissions are going down not up which we'd expect to see now.

We've also been told kids are fine and at no risk and now suddenly they need a vaccine'because benefits outweigh risks'

bullshit goal posts getting moved again.

[ThornAmongstRoses]

I’m watching Sky News as I type this and after the last few interviews I’ve watched, for the first time ever, I’m now thinking that the 21st isn’t going to happen

[Pootle40]

@Pyewackect

But the numbers are low, as in hospitalisations. I don't get it, has it changed from protect the NHS to eradicate Covid ?? Or are there only 4 intensive care bed in the whole UK? I know it's less ICU beds than you'd think in each hospital.

Half our ICU beds are occupied with Covid patients, all are under 40 !.

I smell BS here