If all restrictions are ending on July 19th, why are people talking about mask wearing and social distancing continuing?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

Johnson etc al, plus the popular press, keep saying that "all restrictions" will be lifted on July 19th. And yet the media is also talking about some measures such as mask wearing on public transport continuing. So does that mean that 19th July will be another step in easing restrictions but not a total lifting?

I reckon so. No real change on 19th July (for me at least)

It may be a matter of personal choice, or something they operators or venues decide to continue with while cases are high for the safety of their staff and customers.

It was always the case that step 4 is releasing limits on social contact and opening mass events etc. Masks were always going to be reviewed at the same time but it was just a review not a fixed date for removing them.

I understand some private businesses may decide to require mask wearing for example. But I'm watching the BBC news this morning and the experts they've got on are talking about mask wearing needing to continue in public spaces. I've got no issue with that if it's deemed safest but I'm struggling to square it with "all restrictions lifted".

National legal restrictions could be lifted but TfL for example might be able to keep mask rules for its customers on its network. Or a supermarket might keep a one way system or a maximum customer number policy. It’s a bit fuzzy though.

We had a Covid spot check in our factory on Thursday by the HSE and he said they would be continuing for another 12 months!! I assume that they will be expecting businesses to conform for ever even if it means working reduced capacity and the SD Roolz aren't even in force legally!

It’s looking likely that social distancing will be either scrapped or just strongly advised. Although, social distancing may/ probably will be back in the winter.

I am not so certain about masks. I cannot see them being completely ditched/ advised, especially not in all settings. I wouldn’t be binning/ burning them just yet.

I'd like to see the end of most restrictions, but I'd actually quite like to see masks stay. Keeps loads of infectious bugs at bay and I never ever want to have either flu or norovirus again.

Anyone who believes there will be no restrictions going forward is absolutely deluded. We have to live with covid which means taking some precautions. It doesn't mean pretending there is no covid.

It has only ever been lifting restrictions on social contact and events, never about a complete return to normal. I fully expect masks and testing/passports tonolay a part in it.

If we have to have another lockdown, I truly hope everyone sees how ridiculous this government is and demands better.

Chris Witty has said that he agrees we should release some restrictions now. However, he is worried about the winter. Not necessarily Covid but other seasonal respiratory illnesses as well.

I think there thinking is if we start mixing now we will be introducing these viruses into our system in the summer when we are outside more and hospitals aren’t facing the usual winter pressures.

Covid hasn’t gone, and it will never go. However, they aren’t sure exactly how Covid will fit in with other winter bugs that are in general circulation.

This is why might need to reintroduce restrictions this winter.

It won’t necessarily be a full lockdown but it could be masks, social distancing, reduced capacity.

We just don’t know how this is going to play out.

I assume masks will still be advised in shops, public transport etc but might not be a legal requirement. I expect many businesses will keep them.

I think it might descend into semantics between what’s a restriction and what’s a measure. We’re restricted from certain sized gatherings and venues but masks and distancing are infection control measures.

I’m not arguing for either but it’s feeling like it’s heading towards another blast of politicking around language (the same as ‘advised’ and ‘mandated’).

Tbh anyone doubting this governments fondness for playing games with language and communication needs to listen to last Wednesdays PM questions - it was an embarrassing display of smarmyness and knowing exactly how their words are reported in the media.

Yes I agree @Cornettoninja I think there will become a distinction between things that RESTRICT our behaviour and MEASURES we can use to help contain the spread.

I think restrictions will go on the 19th - so limits on numbers allowing events/nightclubs. Basically those things that drive the economy

And instead we will be ask to comply with measures in place to help stop the spread, masks, better ventilation for places if possible (open windows if having visitors, social distance when you can, test (LFT and PCR), isolate if positive etc. I think it is better to keep masks on things such as public transport rather than removing and bringing back

Even though vaccines are working well, the 'road map' to ending all restrictions was based on the alpha variant. The delta variant is now the dominant strain and is significantly more transmissible which means that more people have to be vaccinated to stop covid outbreaks growing. There is possibly some immune escape too, which means that vaccinated or previously infected individuals may be more likely to develop and spread the virus.

Current cases are mostly in younger, unvaccinated/partially vaccinated age groups and although they are lower risk, when large numbers of them catch the virus a significant number (although still much lower than the 1st and 2nd wave) will require hospital treatment.

In my unit we have gone from having no covid admissions to having about half a dozen over the past month. They are all quite young and every bit as sick as the covid patients we had previously. It is a small number, however it is having a significant impact on other work when we are trying to catch up on a huge backlog of non-covid patients. It is also very unusual to have this many respiratory patients at this time of year. Normally we would see very few between spring and autumn. It seems more like a busy winter, only we haven't even got there yet.

I'm not saying that restrictions shouldn't be lifted, but there will be a trade-off in slowing down the NHS's catch-up. Without conjuring up a bunch of highly-trained staff, there is no way around this.

There are politicians…. then there are doctors/scientists….. there are business owners….. and then there are ordinary people who are none of the above.

Within each of those groups, there are people with a range of views about whether any measures should remain beyond 19th July. Plus, as already noted, stage 4 is about removing the restrictions on numbers which can gather, but masks and social distancing were always subject to a separate review, not guaranteed to be lifted at the same time.

What you’re seeing is the debate being conducted partly in the public arena. For example, the BMA today have come out and said they think masks and SD should continue. I would imagine there are some individual members of the BMA who don’t agree.

I’m hoping it’ll become optional

Plus, as already noted, stage 4 is about removing the restrictions on numbers which can gather, but masks and social distancing were always subject to a separate review, not guaranteed to be lifted at the same time.

But social distancing and restrictions on numbers are very often the same thing. If a venue is told it must practice social distancing, then by definition that means they will have to reduce numbers - of diners, clubbers, shoppers, passengers and so on - which will also dramatically reduce their profits.

For example, the BMA today have come out and said they think masks and SD should continue. I would imagine there are some individual members of the BMA who don’t agree.

Yes, I agree with that. Plus, as you say, doctors and health experts have a very different view than business owners or ordinary people. Their opinion has to be taken into account, obviously, but so do other opinions. I'm sure the BMA would recommend lots of things that dont' really work in real life.

Originally it was all restrictions gone on 21st June but separate review on masks, social distancing, vaccine and test retirements. Bit of a contradiction but it it what was said
I think its getting blurred now

When the roadmap was initially published it did not mention masks or ventilation or even recommendations for social distancing. Step 4 was removal of all limits on gathering size and allowing all businesses to open. For some reason the press decided to refer to this as freedom day and so people saw it as completely back to normal.

I'd rather we kept masks and good ventilation but could otherwise go back to normal, than scrapped everything now only for lockdown to come back later. We still have another couple of months before all adults will be fully vaccinated, so why not keep a few measures that don't stop people living their lives until then.

If masks are optional is that not pointless? I thought the idea was that we wore masks to protect others and not ourselves? I'd prefer to get rid of them but if they are to remain then surely it needs to be consistent for all that are not exempt?

I assume it will all just beckem advisory maybe kept on public transport and hospitals... im hoping airports themselves may be exempt until you are on the flight though.