Should lockdown only be lifted when coronavirus is 'fully under control'? This is what Gazette readers said

Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK into lockdown for three weeks on Monday, March 23, in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.

It was then extended for a further three weeks as the Government takes steps to try and prevent a second peak.

Now more than 26,000 people have died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19.

Research has suggested that Britons are ‘the most cautious’ when it comes to reopening the economy following the Covid-19 outbreak.

We asked Shields Gazette readers: “Do you think coronavirus should be ‘fully under control’ before the economy and businesses reopen?”

Out of more than 1,100 people who responded, 85% agreed that the economy and businesses should not reopen until the coronavirus is fully under control.

However many have also questioned how the British economy and businesses will cope.

Here’s what our readers thought about the issue:

Donna Atkinson: “I am undecided. Do we stay shut until we have a vaccine or do we open carefully but people must wash their hands and if you have symptoms stay home. Hard to judge because some people won’t listen.”

Julie Evans: “Unfortunately I don't think our economy could survive lockdown until a vaccination is found and for that reason I say no. The elderly and anyone with health problems should be protected though and unfortunately should stay away from others until they can get a vaccination. By opening up eventually the healthy can get it building herd immunity in the meantime until a vaccination is found.”

Maxine Jade Wilson: “Be realistic, lockdown cannot be until we find a vaccine. Nobody is going to stay in that long. Do you think when summer comes along everyone if going to be stuck in the house in the hot weather – parents with kids locked in small flats and people mental health will be going down. Sorry but that’s not and answer in the long term. We need to accept virus is here and work around it.”

Jude Bell: “Our economy isn't anywhere as important as our lives. Let's remember all the poor people who have lost their lives and all the people fighting this battle now.”

Tolly Katopodis: “Absolutely YES. Another lockdown in case of a second wave would be much harder to go back to normal what ever that would be.”

Paul Cassell: “The economy has to restart somehow, without an economy you will bust the nhs so we have to take it slow but things have to start moving somehow.”

Oliver Wallhead: “It is never going to be ‘fully under control’ until there is vaccine, and obviously we cant keep the economy locked down till next year.”

Graham Scaife: “If it isn't fully under control before businesses and shops reopen then you risk a second wave, you'd have to have another lockdown and the last six weeks would have been a waste of time.”

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