Julian reflects on what should have been the end of restrictions
June 21, 2021
Amid feelings of anger, disappointment and frustration, June 21 is a sombre day for struggling businesses, enamoured couples, large families and all who have so much hope invested in the final easing of lockdown restrictions. Their understandable bitterness is only amplified by news that positive vaccine data was suppressed for three days when the decision to delay Step 4 of the Prime Minister’s roadmap was being made.
With the latest research showing our vaccines provide protection against the delta variant and all variants that have proceeded it, my belief that the Government has made a monumental error of judgement has not changed and with each passing day my determination to push for a return to normality becomes more resolute.
As I have said many times, this delay is not just a few extra weeks. It is four more weeks of hospitality businesses struggling to even turn a profit due to restricted capacity. It is four more weeks of delayed nuptials for loving couples who have already had to push back their wedding day so they can share their special moment with family and friends. It is four more weeks that long overdue family reunions are delayed. It is four more weeks that treatment for non-covid conditions is reduced creating longer backlogs.
We have all been in this battle against COVID-19 for over a year now. While we pulled together and accepted the need for certain sacrifices, incredible scientists around the world delivered an arsenal of vaccines as our route out of the pandemic. We were then fortunate in the United Kingdom that our vaccine rollout has progressed at a phenomenal pace with over 80% of adults having now received a first dose and 60% of adults having received both doses.
Or should I say we would be fortunate if we had belief in our vaccines. There will always be new variants as viruses mutate to survive. Ancestor variants of the original strain of Spanish Flu can be found today over one hundred years after it was first identified. Instead of locking ourselves away perpetually in fear, we need to trust the data that shows that, because of our vaccination programme, infection rates are not leading to a surge in hospitalisations and deaths, unlike the first and second wave.
It seems though that the Government does has faith in the vaccine at certain times, for example when downplaying images of football fans dancing in Leicester Square. It is therefore ever more cruel that they don’t in other scenarios, like when newlyweds want to dance at their reception. I have no problem with either of these taking place but do object to the unfair disparity. After a year of emotional and economical sacrifice, it is time to end restrictions as soon as possible and I will be lobbying with like-minded colleagues that July 19th is too long to wait.
