Road to freedom will not be quick or easy

THE easing of Covid restrictions on Saturday and the further relaxation of rules due to take place on August 7 demonstrate that Wales is attempting to emerge from the pandemic in an orderly manner.

But no-one should seek to ignore the fact there remain good reasons to wear masks on public transport and in other indoor settings for some time.

Boris Johnson has chosen to brand the end of Covid restrictions in England today “Freedom Day”, giving the impression that the pandemic no longer poses a threat and can safely be disregarded.

We agree with those who view such an approach as irresponsible. It sends out the wrong message, encouraging people to let their guard down at a time when coronavirus still poses a significant threat to many.

The easing of restrictions will inevitably lead to a spike in infections. That has been the experience in other countries that have already followed such a path.

But while being doubly vaccinated does not eliminate the possibility of being infected, it does greatly reduce the chance of hospitalisation and death.

Nevertheless, the risk of such outcomes remains for those who have not been vaccinated, for whatever reason.

Those responsible for spreading lies and absurd conspiracy theories about the vaccines are putting at risk the lives of those they seek to influence.

Freedom of speech should not extend to the freedom to lie in circumstances where people’s lives are endangered.

The Welsh Government must continue to do its best to persuade people that it is in everyone’s interest to take the vaccine.

After a gruelling year and a half, it’s great that many of the things we took for granted throughout our lives will be available to us again.

Vaccine passports will be an essential part of the strategy to ensure that as many people as possible are vaccinated – there need to be easily demonstrable reasons for getting jabbed.

The best way to ensure that Covid-19 is overcome is by maximising the numbers of people protected by the vaccines across the world.

There remain unknowns, like the future extent of long Covid and the best way to combat it.

But assuming the pandemic is already beaten would be a major mistake.