Covid-19: Government backtracks over travel advice and England's vaccine rollout extended
After advising people not to travel into and out of eight areas in England worst hit by Indian coronavirus variant, the government has now said travel should be minimised, clarifying local restrictions are not being imposed. The government came under fire on Tuesday over the initial advice for Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside. Although advice on avoiding all non-essential travel has changed, around two million people in those affected areas are still being asked to meet outdoors and stay two metres apart from anyone in other households, wherever possible.
How depressing it all is. It is not likely that this level of government intrusion into our lives will ever be rolled back. That much has been obvious for a long time. The general shape of government intrusion may change but the overall level of control probably not.
Protest has been too muted and government coronavirus policy has been too politically successful to be abandoned now. The ratchet has moved on by too many clicks. Clearly many voters do not object to being lied to and bossed about. Even the miserable BBC seems set to survive. Sad, but it seems to be so.
I don't think much of this May weather either. The global warming crowd were lying too. Oh well - soon be time for a coffee and a biscuit.
5 comments:
About to quote you. Yes, they were never going to lift restrictions, there was always going to be a new variant.
I wonder… if this year's spring weather had occurred last year, would there have been quite as much acquiescence to the long paid holiday, especially among those with secure incomes and nice houses with gardens?
James - as if stretching the whole thing until the next flu season when we'll be off again.
djc - possibly not, maybe we underestimate the effect of the weather.
"... they were never going to lift restrictions, there was always going to be a new variant."
The latest news is a Thailand variant making itself known. Apart from hating green curry, I despair at how many countries the PTB haven't mentioned yet.
Penseivat - yes there are plenty to go at yet. People may finally become suspicious if we get something like the Babylon variant but I wouldn't put money on it.
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