Quick poll - will all restrictions be lifted on 19th?

[SonnetForSpring]

Yes or no? I feel a u turn coming on as it seems the majority of public are not happy to lift all restrictions according to government polling.

So wondering what you think?

Yes, they'll lift it for the 6 weeks of parliament recess, so MPs can enjoy their summer. Then they'll lock us down when they come back in September.

@LightAsTheBreeze

Yes, even Prof. pantsdown seemed to be saying it was the right time on BBC this morning

Probably terrified of being intimidated again in public.

@Delatron

When would be a good time to lift restrictions then if not now? Winter? Next year?!

I think there’s a difference between ‘ lift everything’ and total lockdown. The idea that the infection rates will fall because we stop testing and measuring is very clever, if a folly.

These huge gatherings are very high risk - so Festival of Speed at Goodwood has just seen at least 7 doctors (that I know of) requiring to self isolate. The knock on of that is very clear.

Masks have not only reduced Coronavirus transmission rates but have also minimised other virus transmission and lowered flu rates. No real difficulties keeping masks for use in indoor public spaces as mandatory.

A mandate that handgel must be available and used on entry to public spaces and particularly before ordering food would be no bad thing.

Keeping some degree of WFH should be encouraged. Many are doing it, but there are still companies that are into unnecessary pesenteeism.

Restrictions on capacity in restaurants and bars is good for all sorts of reasons.

Yes in England

no

there's no way for example that they will stop wearing masks in healthcare

they will CALL it "Freedom Day"

but with lots of provisos

and claim they have done something oh so wonderful

while many people take more precautions than before

[the Tories are posturing idiots]

Yes, the legal changes will go ahead as planned, but there will be a big change in the tone of the government’s messaging.

Their polling is telling them that this week’s announcements landed badly with the public, so they will tone down the ‘freedom day’ rhetoric and emphasise that the pandemic isn’t over, we should all still be cautious, masks may no longer be compulsory but are still recommended etc etc.

@LemonRoses: "These huge gatherings are very high risk [...]. The knock on of that is very clear."

You're right that the consequence is clear, and it's high risk in the sense of being disruptive.

But that's because the gov't forgot that, while cases per se are no longer important, they still trigger isolations, tracings, and bubbles to burst. I do think that's a really bad miss —how could it be that no-one made the connection? It's so obvious.

In terms of the health risk from covid itself, everything I've seen (general virus efficacy, as well as efficacy amongst CEV, data from Israel, hospitalisation and death rate here) points to it no longer being a thing.

So I think — and really really hope—they'll open up.

Oh yes I pretty much expect them to do it.

I wonder if they'll tell us in advance how many British people their plan will put in hospital, how many of us it will kill, and how many will get Long Covid because of it.

The plan is here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/999419/COVID-199ResponseSummerr2021.pdf

But it's basically. "Let's Just Go Back To Normal. The End."

@User135644

Yes, they'll lift it for the 6 weeks of parliament recess, so MPs can enjoy their summer. Then they'll lock us down when they come back in September.

This would not astonish me.

See attached poll showing majority support for continuing restrictions.

Another reason why the restrictions will be lifted on the 19th : The Tory backbenchers simply would not tolerate another delay. If Johnson tried it, a leadership challenge would be inevitable. Probably from someone like Steve Baker.

Another reason why the restrictions will be lifted on the 19th : The Tory backbenchers simply would not tolerate another delay. If Johnson tried it, a leadership challenge would be inevitable. Probably from someone like Steve Baker

The Covid Recovery Group are such a bore. And not that influential, especially if it goes through Parliament.

Why would anyone challenge Boris as leader? He won the election, people voted for him, not Steve Baker.

I think they will be. Well, kind of.

I don't really think people can say 'all restrictions are lifted' because they won't be. And people are going to be grouped into single vac/double vac/ non vac. There will still be isolations needed etc. They are all restrictions.

I also don't believe there's no going back. If over winter the NHS really struggles I don't believe they will just carry on as normal.

I genuinely believe it's not freedom day. It's a summer of freedom.

Until we have a full winter with vaccines, I am not sure how anyone can say, restrictions won't be needed over winter.

@User135644

Yes, they'll lift it for the 6 weeks of parliament recess, so MPs can enjoy their summer. Then they'll lock us down when they come back in September.

I agree with this. I know it isn't popular to say this on here but there is no coincidence that the lifting of restrictions coincides with the school summer holidays. Schools are a major driver of infections. They are taking advantage of this. They know people have 'covid' fatigue and compliance is low. They are giving us all 'freedom' now incase they need to lock down again in September if the vaccinations aren't as effective as they hope. They are taking a big gamble that schools finishing will lower the R enough that it will not rise too much with the other lifting.

yes, schools are a major factor.

I note that, as it happens, private schools finish 2 weeks early and will go back later.

Some chose to shut early rather than try to operate with high levels of infections, too.

I still think there is some kind of U turn coming. NE is having a serious time. Could be a new variant.

It’s already been confirmed today that lifting is going ahead

There will be no U turn. Some people on here may need to start to come to terms with the imminent lifting of restrictions.

The government is moving on to ‘individual responsibility’ as a strategy. So if you want you can stay at home and avoid public spaces. The rest of us can crack on with our lives.

Delatron, some people may need to start coming to terms with what living with covid really means...and it doesn't mean returning to how things were pre covid.

@SonnetForSpring yes you may want to do that but if restrictions are removed? Then good luck with getting the rest of us to.

Living with Covid doesn’t mean continuing with restrictions, it means treating it as another endemic virus we have in circulation. (And maybe focusing on other illnesses).

There will be a fudge, whether or not you want to describe it as a U turn.

Yes, but only until winter. Once schools reopen as normal without bubbles and isolations etc cases will begin to rise even quickly. I think the nhs will have a lot of pressure on them then and some restrictions will come back.

[quote Delatron]@SonnetForSpring yes you may want to do that but if restrictions are removed? Then good luck with getting the rest of us to.

Living with Covid doesn’t mean continuing with restrictions, it means treating it as another endemic virus we have in circulation. (And maybe focusing on other illnesses).[/quote]
Unfortunately, that is simply not true because of the way the government are messing it up at every turn. I wish it was true but the current government strategy is rolling lockdowns which means we will have another unnecessary lockdown coming before Christmas.

@herecomesthsun

There will be a fudge, whether or not you want to describe it as a U turn.

Exactly...

I dont think there will be a U turn - the CRG backbenchers won't allow it. However, the lifting of restrictions cannot now be "irreversible" (govt already backtracking on this)