Slow and steady steps out of lockdown bodes well for weeks ahead

WHILE shoppers headed back to the high street on Monday, with queues forming early outside clothes stores and barber’s salons, it appears that when it came to the freedom to have a drink in pub gardens the Westcountry enjoyed its alcohol in a suitably sober fashion.

There were few reports of bad behaviour and rule-breaking and the kinds of crowding witnessed elsewhere seems to have been largely avoided.

In Plymouth, one officer said people who gathered at the popular Barbican to share a drink beside the harbour were “well behaved”. Punters headed home before it got too late and there was little mess left behind – a very different scene from the waterfront littering witnessed last summer.

All of which is an encouraging start, given the messages urging caution before Monday’s easing of restrictions as part of the roadmap out of lockdown.

Despite the curtailing of our freedoms for so long, it could be that people have learnt the importance of a measured approach and have tempered their enthusiasm to get back out and about accordingly, recognising that things cannot immediately return to the way they were.

The success of the vaccination programme may be playing a vital part. Having come so far, we can all see the benefits of holding steady – not ‘blowing it’ – as widespread immunity is gradually conferred, second jabs are rolled out and the administration of doses to younger age groups gets underway.

There seems to be the sense of an end of sorts in sight, and the cautious approach has to be commended, given the rollercoaster ride of surging infections and rapid lockdowns the country has endured over the last year.

Yesterday Boris Johnson warned that the easing of lockdown restrictions will “inevitably” lead to more coronavirus cases and deaths, urging people to continue to “exercise restraint”. Although vaccines had helped, lockdown restrictions had done “the bulk of the work” in reducing Covid-19 infections, he said.

His message was echoed in the Westcountry by public health chief Ruth Harrell who warned it was not yet time to take the foot fully off the brake pedal, saying that with the first tentative steps out of lockdown “we do have to take it slowly and gradually”. “We’ve seen before that we thought things might be getting better, and we’ve seen how quickly cases can rise if it goes wrong,” she said.

Although that cautious approach appears to have been heeded in the Westcountry so far, it was also heartening that the hard-earned rewards of playing by the rules were enjoyed by so many, as people visited outdoor attractions such as zoos as well as town centres and pubs.

Monday provided a vital boost to businesses, hospitality and leisure in particular, which have waited patiently for the locked door to be nudged ajar as high streets once again reverberated with footsteps and chatter.

The return of schools last month has not led to a spike in infections and it is hoped that this stage will be similarly successful.

In terms of public adherence to the rules, Monday’s somewhat chilly dress rehearsal for the summer ahead seems very promising.