The UK recorded its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began today with 1,610 lives being claimed by Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. Current lockdown restrictions were initially expected to last until the middle of February but with case and death rates still so high the Prime Minister is facing calls to extend the measures into April.
But an exclusive Express.co.uk poll has found the majority of people would not back any further extensions to this third national lockdown which Mr Johnson announced on January 8.
The survey found 51 percent (1,582 people) would be opposed to the country under the existing curbs until April.
It showed 47 percent (1,549 people) would support such a move while 2 percent (74 people) said they were not sure.
A total of 3,205 readers took part in the online poll which ran between 9.30am and 8.30pm on Tuesday January 19 2021.
One reader said: “Do lockdowns even work? Nearly a year later and nothing has changed.
“Even if people have the vaccine they have to adhere to the same rules as those who have not.
“Seems a waste of resources.”
Another said: “Lift the lockdowns NOW. Only the sheep want them.”
READ MORE: UK hits another devastating milestone – highest-ever daily death toll
Another reader warned: “We can’t take much more of lockdowns.
“Of course we want hospitals to cope and know people are still dying from Covid but what about others who are also suffering – depression, feelings of suicide, life without hope. What about them?”
And another said: “How effective will lockdown be? UNKNOWN. How fast and how effective will the vaccinations be? UNKNOWN. What new variants will occur? UNKNOWN.
“Far too many unknowns to have a timetable. It MUST be subject to ongoing assessment.”
He continued: “It depends on the vaccination programme going well, it depends on there being no new variants that throw our plans out and we have to mitigate against, and it depends on everybody, all of us, remembering that we’re not out of the woods yet.
“We’re going as fast as we can but I stress we can do everything we can to open up but when we come to February 15, and the moment when we have to take stock of what we’ve achieved, that’s the time to look at where the virus is, the extent of the infection and the success that we’ve had.
“It’s only really then that we can talk about the way ahead and what steps we can take to relax.”
The UK hit another grim milestone as the nation recorded 1,610 more Covid-19 deaths today, the highest total since the pandemic began.
The figures showed a steep rise from the 599 deaths reported in yesterday’s official figures but there is often a lag in reporting new deaths after the weekend.
Today’s data also showed there 33,355 new cases recorded today, down from yesterday’s 37,535.
