Johnson expected to delay ‘Freedom Day’, as poll shows more than half of people back him.
With cases of the more transmissible delta variant increasing, the coronavirus restrictions are likely to remain for a bit longer.
It’s been labelled ‘Freedom Day’ – a symbolic milestone for when all coronavirus restrictions come to an end in England.
Scientists have urged the Government to be “cautious” about fully lifting lockdown measures in England due to the rise in cases of the Delta variant.
They fear the surge in infections of the mutant strain, also known as the Indian variant, could lead to NHS hospitals being overwhelmed.
It comes amid reports Boris Johnson will reportedly announce on Monday that lockdown restrictions will not be lifted as hoped on June 21 and so-called Freedom Day will be delayed by up to four weeks.
Professor Peter Openshaw, a member of the Nervtag advisory group, said that it was a “disappointing setback” that the Delta variant first identified in India seemed even more successful than the previous strains.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday: “This Delta variant seems to be about 60 per cent more transmissible than that (the Alpha, or Kent, variant).
“So it really has gone up another gear and that means that we really have to double down and not lose all the advantage that has been gained by the massive effort that has been put in so far.”
Sky News reported an Opinium poll of 2,002 UK adults found that 54% thought the lifting of restrictions should be postponed, up from 43% two weeks ago.
Just 37% thought they should go ahead as planned or earlier, down from 44% two weeks ago.
Most of those wanting to postpone the easing are older adults, including almost two-thirds of over-65s, while young people are more evenly split – 45% of those aged 18 to 34 back postponement and 46% say the easing should go ahead on 21 June or earlier.
Around six in 10 people backed keeping the requirement to wear face masks, as well as keeping nightclubs closed and limiting large outdoor events.
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