Keele University virologist says to hold off June 21st 'Freedom Day'
It's as Delta variant cases continue to surge across Staffordshire and Cheshire
The Prime Minister’s expected to announce later whether or not the next easing of coronavirus restrictions will go ahead as planned next week.
The June 21st date for the final stage of the government’s road map out of lockdown has been thrown into doubt after a surge in cases of the Delta COVID variant first identified in India.
Dr Naomi Forrester-Soto is a virologist at Keele University.
"I would say we should hold off" she said.
"Simply because I don't think we understand enough about the interactions.
"It's too important a decision because the government doesn't want to go backwards. That's what they've always said."
"If we're not willing to go backwards, then I don't think we should reopen until we're certain."
"If we are willing to say - okay, you know what - we reopened a little bit too early. Let's go back a few steps - then I think, you know, reopening and trying it just might be okay. But given that this is supposed to be a one and done, I think waiting until we're certain would be prudent at this stage."
Naomi added: "I think waiting until we're certain the vaccine works the way we suspect it does against the variant and until we're certain about that and honestly, until we have vaccinated a few more second doses into people and got a few more first doses into the younger cohort getting the rest of the country vaccinated first would be prudent at this stage."
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