Being transparent about any Covid-19 measures we have to keep is only a good thing

The fact that the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has said the UK is “in a good position” to “get life back as close to normal as possible” by the end of June is good news.

It follows the same “mood music” the government has been playing for a while, but it is always reassuring to hear positive talk after some many months without much of it. Yes, the prime minister, Boris Johnson, has had a tendency at time during the past 12 months to paint a picture that appeared far rosier than reality – but the vaccine rollout has been an important success.

Some may have winced at Raab's suggestion that some Covid-19 safeguards will need to remain in place when the roadmap out of lockdown is due to end. Speaking to the BBC, Raab said that no decision had been made, but that possible measures could revolve around the use of social distancing or the wearing of masks.

This is always a subject that we receive plenty of correspondence about, and there are plenty of readers that feel that the pace of the release from lockdown is not moving quickly enough. I understand the sentiment, particularly as vaccines continue to be rolled out effectively.

But seeing the situation that is unfolding in India, I believe the government is right to keep the option open for retaining some measures. It may decide we do not have to use them, but it is better to be transparent about the options now, rather than having to abruptly bring them back in.

That type of miscommunication did not help around Christmas time – and so anything that avoids that type of situation is preferable.

No doubt there will be readers who agree with that stance, and many who won’t – believing it to be overcautious.

As ever, we are always open to hearing what you think, and I look forward to it.

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Voices editor