The lockdown rules, which were due to ease on June 21st, will be delayed by four weeks according to Government sources. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will present the news in a conference later today.
Senior Ministers approved the delaying of lockdown rules. This delay means nightclubs will remain closed, pubs and restaurants will continue to operate on limited capacity. Whilst no minister will confirm the changes until the PM’s conference, Health Minister Edward Argar shares concerns surrounding the increase in cases. A seven day forecast shows a 49% increase in cases from the seven days before.
However, the delay is causing ripples through Government with a sizeable rebellion from the Conservative backbench. Former Conservative Cabinet Minister Damian Green wants a “break clause” allowing the Government to open the country up in one or two weeks, if hospital admissions do not rise.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab who says the Government do not want to “yo-yo” in and out of restrictions. The Government do not want to ease all restrictions, only to have to reverse it in a few weeks.
Nightclubs, who are spending millions to prepare for reopening, say a delay will be “catastrophic”. The UK weddings taskforce predict a loss of £325 million for every week the wedding industry works with a limitation of 30 guests. If a delay is announced today over 50,000 weddings, lots of which have been delayed or rescheduled multiple times already, will be postponed or cancelled.
Is the ease of lockdown rules really necessary?
The Governments delay of easing the lockdown rules follows a substantial, and continual, rise in Covid cases. The UK reports that, on Sunday, over 7,490 new cases of Covid 19 and eight deaths within 28 days of a positive case.
90% of these rising cases show that the patient tests positive of the Delta variant of Covid19. This new variant is approximately 60% infectious than the Alpha Variant. On top of this, it is also twice as likely to place the sufferer in hospital.
Health Minister Argar says there is evidence that the most severe cases those who are either unvaccinated, or who had only had one dose. With another four week delay, the Government could administer approximately 10 million second doses to increase protection.
The public did expect a delay, following scientists advice to help delay it. The delay will allow more people to receive the second dose of the vaccine.
A graph shared on the BBC website, predicts we will have 15,000 cases a day by the 21st of June if the Government fail to delay reopening. The Prime Minister is due to confirm the next step in Lockdown rules later today.
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