The Welsh Government has announced that it will not be ending all mask-wearing requirements when the country reaches the final stage of its 'roadmap' out of lockdown because "the virus has quite certainly not gone away".
The closer we get to July 19th, the further we seem to shift from normality. It's no wonder then that the Prime Minister is said to be attempting to tone down the "Freedom Day" rhetoric.
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.
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".
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.
Covid rules could soon change to Government advice in Wales, according to a Welsh minister – but the Conservative opposition says that, in the absence of a date for unlocking, more clarity is needed.
Working from home could become the norm post-lockdown, but research shows that home working has increased levels of loneliness and mental distress over the past year – even for those who do not live alone.
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.
