THREAT TO FREEDOM DAY
» Fears for final unlocking in June due to more contagious Indian variant » Army sent in to hotspots as gap between jabs cut from 12 to 8 weeks
THE Indian variant of Covid is putting the end of lockdown at risk.
Boris Johnson fears a “serious disruption” to the lifting of all curbs by June.
The Army will help with tests in northern hotspots.
HOPES of all lockdown restrictions being lifted by June 21 look to be under threat due to surging cases of the Indian Covid variant.
Boris Johnson yesterday warned he may have to put the brakes on the final easing of curbs, which will dampen the mood of a weary nation that believed the end of the pandemic was in sight when he made the bold pledge weeks ago.
Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said the new variant appeared more transmissible than the Kent version that triggered a third lockdown in winter.
And the PM came under fire for not closing our borders to those travelling from India sooner as the variant raged across the sub-continent.
The variant is now in at least 15 areas of England, including London and the North West, with cases soaring in the last week from 530 to 1,313 – causing four deaths so far.
And the Army will be deployed in the North to hand out checks, while the vaccine rollout will be boosted in Covid hotspots such as Bolton and Blackburn, where huge queues formed at test sites.
Millions of over-50s will now get their second jab within eight weeks rather than 12 in a bid to contain the virus.
Mr Johnson insisted there would be no delay in step three of the lifting of lockdown, including allowing inside eating, drinking and mixing. But he added: “I have to level with you that this new variant could pose a serious disruption to our progress and could make it more difficult to move to step four in June.”
The PM said people should consider the risks when seeing loved ones, particularly if they have not had both jabs.
And he urged people to “think twice” about staying with family and friends in areas hit hard by the Indian variant, known as B1.617.2.
Mr Johnson said: “It’s very clear now we’re going to have to live with this new variant of the virus for some time so let’s work together, and let’s exercise caution and common sense.”
But Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth accused the PM of dithering over blocking visitors from India when he knew about the variant.
The country was not added to the travel red list until April 23, despite a major Covid spike in the country. Mr Ashworth said: “People will be concerned and tonight’s news brings into sharp focus Boris Johnson’s reckless failure to protect our borders in this crisis. “Only a few weeks ago we urged Matt Hancock to designate this a variant of concern and respond with speed.” Mr Johnson insisted