Are We There Yet? - Is The Pandemic Nearly Over??

As we move into May, the prime minister Boris Johnson has said that there is a 'good chance' of the social distancing rule being scrapped from the 21st of June. He made it clear that this would be very much 'dependant on the data', however, with the governments road map currently going well and on schedule, things are looking positive, and this is the closest we've come to normality since before the first lockdown started in March last year.

So what does this mean?

According to the governments road map, all social restrictions will be lifted from the 21st of June, all being well. This means that pubs will be back to normal, social gatherings such as shows and festivals can take place, and you can finally give your nan a hug!

Holidays are a big topic at the moment, with foreign holidays still up in the air in terms of if's, where's and when's. The government have remained very tight lipped as to whether we will be able to travel abroad this year, many MP's saying that the PM should 'discourage' foreign travel to reduce the risk of covid variants entering the country. However, many have already booked UK holidays, or 'Staycations', which has been permitted since April 12th under the governments guidelines.

Sports events, such as football matches, are being trialled with fans at the moment. 8,000 fans were in attendance at the Carabao Cup final at Wembley between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. This is going to be increased on the 15th May at the FA cup final, with 21,000 fans allowed through the gates. This will hopefully pave the way for fans to be back in full capacity when the season returns in August.

So with all this in mind, is this really the end? Well, no. Experts predict that covid-19 will be around for years to come, and with the threat of new variants ever present, this will keep scientists on edge. The apparent success of the vaccine roll out means that covid is, however, less dangerous. Deaths have plummeted and hospital admissions are the lowest they've been in over a year, with some covid wards around the country empty. And, as we all know, life must go on, and hopefully soon. With the Euros round the corner, every football fan is hoping that the pubs will be back to normal ready to watch England bring football home (maybe...).