The wait for lifting of restrictions goes on

So, a few more weeks it is then.Yesterday, the PM confirmed what had been the worst-kept secret, that the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England was to be delayed.

With fears that the rapidly spreading Delta variant could lead to thousands of deaths and huge strain on the NHS, the June 21 ‘Freedom Day’ has been pushed back to July 19.

The decision has been supported by England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty. Delaying the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England will “reduce significantly the risk of a very high peak” in infections in the coming weeks, he said.

Keeping legal limits on social contact for up to another month – meaning limits on numbers for sports events, pubs and cinemas will continue, nightclubs will stay closed and people will be asked to continue working from home – will doubtless polarise opinion.

However, there are some caveats. The 30-person cap for wedding ceremonies and receptions, as well as funeral wakes, will be lifted with limits to be set by venues based on social distancing requirements.

And care home residents will also no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days after leaving for visits in most cases. The Government hope is that by July 19 around twothirds of adults will have then been offered both vaccine doses due to the delay being coupled with a reduction in the time between jabs for the over-40s.

‘Freedom Day’ may have been pushed back in all of our diaries but we must all continue to try and help and support each other as best we can until it becomes a reality.