Freedom Day cannot be tainted by ifs and buts – the entertainment sector won’t survive further restrictions
It is absolutely right we are finally reopening fully on July 19. Boris Johnson’s announcement last night that pubs, nightclubs, and events would be freed of Covid restrictions should be a moment to rejoice. There are many in the industry, however, who are wary of the threat of further closures.
Hospitality has suffered enormously with continual lockdowns and restrictions. With more than 60 per cent of the population double vaccinated, there is limited justification for keeping any restrictions in place. After seeing 12,000 businesses shut up shop, with hundreds of thousands of jobs jeopardised, we must ensure the vocal minority demanding more rules are met with clear, calm evidence and, as Mr Johnson said, a dose of common sense.
While the Prime Minister ruled out mandatory Covid passports or proof of tests to enter, he said operators would be free to implement their own. These are unnecessary and illiberal impositions the industry would do well to shun.
To get into Wimbledon or Wembley, you need to show either proof of a vaccine or a recent negative Covid test result. Yet, many of those turning up to the gates have travelled there on crowded public transport where no one is required to proffer up test results to pile into train carriages. This makes a mockery of the testing requirement at events.
One would have thought the prospect of reopening would have been cause for celebration. Yet, those determined to delay Britain’s release have jumped onto Health Secretary Sajid Javid’s suggestion we “treat Covid like we treat the flu” as the vaccine rollout continues to give us more and more protection from the virus. What is so objectionable about this? At no point did Mr Javid say Covid is the flu, he said we need to take a sensible approach to it. Even CMO Chris Whitty has acknowledged lockdowns would be an inappropriate response to the winter flu given the low mortality rate.
The number of new cases has taken off, yet hospitalisation rates and the number of deaths have stayed mercifully low. The average number of deaths stand at just 18. The link between cases and serious illness has clearly been severed. It is bizarre that people are determined to pour cold water on the promise of freedom.
Last night, there were hints from the Prime Minister and his advisers that measures could be introduced in Autumn or Winter to once again “protect” the NHS. The nightlife industry was the last to reopen and it will no doubt be the first to fall, if Downing Street bows to this pressure. As Mr Javid said this morning, we cannot continue to live a life completely centered around Covid. We must be open for all everywhere and focus on ensuring our society is dynamic and our economy expanding.