The PM has yet to formally announce a four-week delay to the end of lockdown in England, but Government figures have already hinted that restrictions could be extended beyond July 19th and into the month of August.
Extending lockdown by four weeks could cost the economy £4 billion and put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk – not to mention the costs to other aspects of our lives. But the Government seems poised to do it anyway.
We know that younger people are less likely to be seriously ill, less likely to need prolonged admission and far less likely to die. So why the panic?
Boris Johnson has “all but confirmed” that the June 21st “Freedom Day” will be delayed, saying that “we are seeing some worrying stuff in the data”.
The Government is considering extending lockdown by a month rather than by two weeks so as to give businesses "certainty" that "Freedom Day" won't be delayed again.
The Government cannot comprehend that there is no reason to delay the lifting of lockdown restrictions beyond June 21st because it has become infected by its own "scaremongering propaganda", says Professor David Paton.
Andrew Lloyd Webber says he is willing to face arrest by opening his theatres without social distancing if lockdown is extended later this month, insisting that "we are going to open, come hell or high water".
A cabinet source says they expect the end of lockdown to be delayed by "between two weeks and a month" following a "fairly grim" briefing given to ministers by the Government's two most senior scientific advisers.
Reports suggest that lockdown could be extended until July 5th (at least) to allow time for more adults to receive their second dose of a Covid vaccine.
Senior Government advisors have suggested that guidelines on social distancing, mask-wearing and working from home could all stay in place beyond June 21st ("Freedom Day") under a revised roadmap out of lockdown.
