There is zero chance that the Covid picture will be looking any different next week than it does now. First, the press conferences come once a week, then twice a week, and then every day until – splat! – we are in full lockdown until spring. When society was being reopened earlier this year, the Government took it gently, taking a minimum of five weeks between each step, so as to allow it time to analyse data. Yet when locking us down there is no such caution – in spite of the huge economic cost which the Government is inflicting on us all. I almost wish we could go straight into lockdown to save us this agonising drip-drip-drip erosion of our freedoms. It starts with some modest gesture, and we are assured that is all it is – there will be no more nasties heading our way. Then, a gloomy Chris Whitty takes us through his slides, and, before those measures have had chance to take effect, we have to have tighter restrictions. Here we go again. Like clockwork, the Government is clunking its way towards what threatens to become an annual Christmas tradition: the festive lockdown. Last week we were told to wear masks in shops and on public transport. This week it looks as if we are going full Plan B – mask-wearing, the return of social distancing, working from home and possibly vaccine passports, too. You can already fill in your diary for next week: as soon as the annual Downing Street staff party is out of the way a full lockdown will be called and we’ll be forced to cancel the in-laws yet again.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |