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.
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”.
A member of the Government's NERVTAG advisory group says "there’s a very strong argument" for vaccinating children against Covid, largely due to the prevalence of Covid variants.
PHE released their latest technical briefing yesterday which claims the Delta variant is 64% more infectious than the Alpha variant. But look closer and this headline finding is not all it seems.
An NHS leader says that the number of positive tests alone does not tell the full story: "It is a much younger population that is coming in ." They are less vulnerable and easier to treat.
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.
People living in Greater Manchester and Lancashire are now advised to "minimise travel" due to the Indian variant, though Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has told locals not to cancel trips because of the new guidelines.
The number of patients needing hospital treatment for Covid continues to fall in the former Indian variant "hotspot" Bolton, as the PM says "there is still nothing in the data" to suggest lockdown should be extended.
SAGE member Sir Jeremy Farrar says lockdowns are "awful" – citing their effects on mental health, education and job opportunities – and that Brits must learn to live with Covid without restrictions.
Restrictions on outdoor gatherings will be relaxed in Wales from Monday, but indoor events have been left on hold due to concerns about the Indian Covid variant.
