At the start of all this, the whole rationale for this level of state control was to avoid our NHS being overrun. And that’s fair enough when we were developing vaccines/treatments etc. and people were at real risk. However, with 9 out of 10 adults and the most vulnerable (or thereabouts) vaccinated/due to be vaccinated fully over the summer, provided we have faith in our vaccines, there is simply no prospect of that happening. These politicians, both sides of the border, have become used to this power grab, and are finding every reason not to let go. We can’t hide in a hole every time a variant crops up. If people choose to do that, then that is their right but it’s time to open up fully now, remove all restrictions and let the rest get on with their lives, for those that want to. And then, if it becomes clear that the NHS is at risk of being overrun again at some point in the future, then look at the whole thing again. By then, you never know, we might have invested in our NHS properly so that we can withstand future instances like that. Probably won’t though!