Well, the Government looks to be stepping back from all Covid restrictions, if Johnson's comments yesterday are to be believed (BBC), to be confirmed in Cabinet this morning, apparently, then announced in Parliament later today, this, at the same time as the news of our 95 years old Queen being infected with COVID-19 was announced...
We are now being told that, although the pandemic is not over yet, it is time to learn to live with Covid, but continuing to watch out for future variants. Hopefully this job will be left to experts who have monitored notifiable diseases for years, ie the public health authorities, not a pal of his who sets up another company to milk the taxpayer for money, as has been done with £billions over the last 2 years!
Anyway, trust is being put in the power of Covid vaccines, now that 91% of people 12 years old and over in the UK have had their first dose of a Covid vaccine, 85% their second dose, and 66% a booster. For Hastings, we appear to have more Covid deniers and conspiracy theorists than the national average, with the corresponding figures being 81%, 76% and 60% (BBC), roughly 10% fewer than nationally.
There is a suggestion that the Government's approach is to help divert rebellious Conservative backbench MPs from plotting to kick Johnson out of Downing Street, particularly noting that nearly 100 Conservative MPs voted against Covid passes in England, or that this is a diversion from the Police investigation into parties in Downing Street during lockdown... but surely not...
Anyway, it is not known yet whether free lateral flow tests will continue to be supplied to us, so I have a pack of them arriving today. Do what you have to feel safe folks!
It looks like April the 1st, not a joke apparently, will be the date free tests go, see this BBC page for further advice about testing etc...
