Packed beaches and parks show exactly what’s hard about easing lockdown

One of the Voices desk’s top stories on Thursday was James Moore’s piece on the huge crowds flocking to beaches, particularly in Bournemouth.

The situation, also given the satirical treatment by Mark Steel, shows how difficult the situation is going to be for the government when it comes to easing the lockdown further in England (as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as each government treads its own path).

The issue, and indeed many of the topics around the lockdown, has sparked a response from readers. Many have expressed worry about the what is to come as high streets and pubs begin to welcome back more customers.

The government clearly has to think of the long-term economic effects of Covid-19 and that has factored into some of the planning for the release of lockdown – any answer comes with risk, and it is a case of balancing that risk as best we can. There is one thing we all can do, and that is follow the lockdown guidance presented to us – whether that is in the street, the park, the supermarket or on the beach.

Services around Bournemouth are said to have been stretched by the number of visitors and that will bring issues for those in the area. Whether you believe the lockdown should be lifted swiftly or not, the police and other organisations will clearly have a tough time as we adjust to the new normal and all of us should do what we can to mitigate risk.

On the Voices desk we also get plenty of correspondence from people worried about their livelihoods and lockdown cannot last indefinitely. But equally none of us want a second wave of the coronavirus to hit.

Please keep sending us your views as all areas of the UK slowly move out of lockdown, and we will do our best – as always – to keep you informed.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Voices co-editor