Freedom Day gets mixed reaction

It had been billed as a day of great change. But what many have been calling ‘Freedom Day’ seemed to pass off without significant change in Sunderland.

Monday, July 19, had been billed in some quarters as they day when the last remaining restrictions around coronavirus would be lifted. A final destination on the roadmap to recovery.

However, many of those who the Echo spoke to in Sunderland yesterday were still exercising great care and not getting too carried away.

Some shoppers felt the lifting of restrictions had come too early. It was unsurprising that folk would have this view given the city's continued high infection rate.

Many were still wearing masks and said they would continue to do so. Caution seemed to be the watchword of the day.

For many businesses, it was a case of customers continuing to act in the way they had been doing for many months. Traders were grateful for that although, like many, some felt the Government guidance could have been more clear. More than anything, the overriding feeling from the day felt like it was too early to be celebrating. Too soon to think we will be fully going back to the old ways of life just yet.

‘Freedom Day’ could easily be called ‘Judgement Day’. A day when we all use our judgement to decide what is best – and safe - for ourselves and others.

It’s clear from the recent spike in case rates that we still have a long way to go in defeating the virus and stopping its spread. A lot of hard work still needs to be done by all of us.