It's not just SAGE member and renowned Communist Susan Michie who believes some lockdown measures should stay forever. Polling suggests that an alarmingly high percentage of Brits support permanent mask and curfew rules.
The Government is due to announce that, from July 19th, fully vaccinated Britons will be able to travel to "Amber List" countries without having to quarantine upon their return to the U.K.
July 19th "Freedom Day" or not, it is "going to take quite a long time to get back to normality", says Professor Chris Whitty. England's Chief Medical Officer says we won't return to normal at least until next spring.
After 15 long months of heavy restrictions, the Welsh Government says it will not rush out lockdown, warning that "this may not be the end of the road".
Almost all Coronavirus rules – including limits on the no. of people who can meet together, face masks, and social distancing – will be ditched as part of step 4 of the roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions in England.
Boris Johnson is set to announce the end of face mask rules later today, but with continuing mask-wearing "advice", and with some pubs, shops and trains likely to enforce their own rules, how much will really change?
Sajid Javid may want Brits to live with Covid "as we already do with flu", but Government advisers remain unconvinced. Professor Stephen Reicher of SAGE says Javid's view is "frightening" and should be ignored.
Sajid Javid has "worsened" the prospect of all restrictions ending on July 19th by being ambiguous over whether guidelines on social distancing and testing will be lifted, says the Chairman of the Covid Recover Group.
Allies of Sajid Javid say his approach to Covid will be so different to Hancock's because he is less "nanny state-ish". But in his first speech as Health Secretary, he will tell Brits that July 5th is too soon to unlock.
Another milestone has been reached in England's vaccine roll-out, with half of all under-30s having received a first dose of a Covid vaccine, yet we continue to wait to unlock.
