Is now the right time to lift Covid restrictions?

I think it defies common sense to remove masks at this stage. I feel so sad we seem to be in a society which has no regard for other people. Take away face masks when no-one is forced to be in hospital alone, when elderly people such as my dad are allowed to mingle in their retirement homes, and when classroom and staff numbers have returned to normal. Oh, and when even young people no longer are suffering from Long Covid. The selfishness of the Tory party RW seems to know no bounds. Despite the strength of the pound on the lifting of restrictions, I don't think our GDP will be worth much if half the population is off work sick soon.

I tend to think he should stay on as PM, what is the alternative? Liz Truss! Then hopefully at the next General Election the Conservatives will fall by the way side. Too many cover ups and lies .

Boorish (sorry Boris) Johnson was weak enough to be prepared to let people meet for christmas and we are all paying for it now. Of course we all wanted to be with our family and friends , but risking so much for one day was ludicrous. I note that no such offer for other religions important holidays was considered. There did seem some improvement previously with all our efforts and to be prepared to risk it all again just for his own sleazy and selfish popularity machinations was appalling. His stop start , do dont, left people not knowing what was for medical reasons and what was to suit his ends. Nothing he says can be taken at face value as we know he is a liar and a cheat, so the only people who would be trusted and believed are medical experts who are respected by their peers and the public to put ALL peoples health before any other consideration.

Bossyrossy I agree completely with you. One of the other things I find hard to accept is the way the awful numbers of people who have died from this virus and that in all their waffling the PM and MPs seldom mention that they regret this. Was a long time Conservative but did not vote for them last tie and am thinking never will again.

I'm fed up of the constant cynicism on here.
They've lifted restrictions but that doesn't mean you can't wear a mask or mustn't social distance. I'll still be doing the same until I personally feel I'm not at risk. We can only look after ourselves and this is the best way to look after everyone else.
We must think for ourselves, we're not zombies.

I read today that some scientists believe Covid is over because Omicron cases are lower. I'm not holding my breath over this. I believe another variation will creep in while we are unsuspecting, hopefully a more mild version - wait and see before abandoning precautions

Forgot to say, one of my friends has been offered Fourth jab. She had breast cancer 10 years ago but is now clear!

I personally don't want restrictions on my life any longer than necessary but everyone is entitled to continue to do whatever they feel is appropriate to their situation. The response to the threat to public health from Covid now needs to be put in line with other threats and treated in the same way.

Of course it's a crowd pleaser to distract from his awful behaviour over parties. He should resign but he won't and the Tories are short of a substitute.

Yes

Boris bashing again. I don't like him I also think he should resign. He is taking scientific advice but he is also taking economic advice. The Government, not Boris on his own have to make judgements on what is best for the majority. The clinically vulnerable have been fairly good at looking after themselves for the last year. They can only do what they feel they need to just like the rest of us. You can't restrict everyone for ever, the economic backlash would be even worse than it is.

Very few people bother to use the sanitising stations anymore. I do continue to use them, but never see anyone else sanitising their hands/trolley. I just hope the shops don’t remove them because of yesterday’s announcements.

We have been told that we now need to live with it - and the largest percentage of people seriously ill in hospital with Covid are the unvaccinated. (Their choice, but unfortunately they are filling beds that could be helping others with different health problems. ) Those who are clinically vulnerable know it, and will hopefully continue to wear a mask. Surely we have all learned that masks and hand washing have kept us free of more than Coronavirus? Nobody in this household has had a cold in the past two and half years.

no, to answer the question put.

What irritates me is the fact that they lift restrictions when it suits London when elsewhere there are still problems. They’ve done it twice before…

I think it's too early too. However we should be taking more responsibility for our own health. Covid-19 and in general. I will still be wearing a mask in supermarkets and when I go to London on the train next week. I suspect quite a few places will still be asking you to wear them but it will be choice as apposed to mandated. We have to live with this now, unless a more dangerous strain rears its ugly head, then we could be back to square one.

It's just too early to lift restrictions - we need to wait for warmer weather - and I really don't think any 'distraction' attempts will fool anyone!

At the moment I seem to be the only person bothering to use antibacterial lotion before and after shopping. Nobody else is sanitising their shopping trolley handles and surely this is a very real risk for transmission.
It doesn't help that our local branch of Morrisons has only one sanitising section anywhere near the door, next to a trolley bay. There is no section within the store, other than a bottle near the pharmacy. But even in Tesco, where there is more antibac available, few are bothering.

Agree! Though the numbers have dropped dramatically over the last 10 days in my area

I don't listen to Boris. He just can't help bending the truth to suit his own agenda! Surely we all know that. I will continue to use a mask in all shops!

No, not the right time to lift restrictions if we ever want to reduce the spread of the virus. Really they are not such an imposition, wearing a mask is hardly restrictive and we can already go out for meals.
Not wearing a mask on public transport is downright foolish at the moment an I hope that most people will continue to wear them.
Some will no doubt say that this current mutation of the virus is less dangerous for most people, but it is dangerous for some. Also the virus will continue to mutate and could become both more virulent and more dangerous.

A specialist on TV here in the far SW was saying on the news lat night that the government seem to be going by what's happening in London only. In London rates of Covid and hospital admissions are reducing but that's not true for the rest of the nation. I'm continuing with masks etc.

I've been reading through various reports but as yet...I don't see any kind of strategy which includes and CENTRES clinically vulnerable people!

I really want this situation to be over but surely everyone should be taken care of and can feel safe.
Common consideration and decency / care for others???
Really sad.

It is absolutely the wrong time to lift all restrictions. I was in a supermarket this morning and got chatting to a lady as we both sanitised our trollies and hands. We both agreed that we were going to continue wearing masks in shops until the cases/hospitalisations are at a more acceptable level. I feel he is just trying to get back in the voters good books after party gate and is ignoring the scientific evidence. Let's hope we don't end up with a high death rate again due to his incompetence.

NO!

Definitely not the right time imho