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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Nisha Mal

Four in 10 people against idea of October half-term firebreak lockdown

Four in 10 people in England are completely against the idea of an October half-term 'firebreak' lockdown to combat Covid-19.

The Government is considering another lockdown to ease pressure on the NHS if Covid hospitalisations continue to rise.

But research of 2,000 adults found 48 per cent believe nobody they know wants – or will stick to - another period of the country closing.

Just 31 per cent think it is a good idea, while a quarter aren’t sure either way.

If one were to be brought in, 38 per cent would continue to exercise outdoors, a fifth would carry on going into the homes of friends and family, and six in 10 would still head out for walks.

While four in 10 would carry on going into any shops that were open, and a fifth would hug people and generally ignore the two-metre distancing rule.

Two thirds, meanwhile, fear keeping kids home from school for another lockdown would set them back ‘immeasurably’.

The survey was carried out by OnePoll, whose spokesperson said: “The data indicates that many are ‘lockdowned-out’ after more than 18 months of some kind of restrictions.

“The government are already facing a tricky battle to maintain public support and must be weighing that up with their response to rising Covid-19 figures.”

It also emerged three in 10 adults went as far as to say that, in their opinion, the threat of Covid-19 is ‘over’.

And 27 per cent would like to see the UK’s Covid response now being managed by the NHS or SAGE - not politicians.

However, 63 per cent feel the NHS has become a ‘bottomless money pit’ - which needs to be fixed before it is given more money.

A OnePoll spokesperson added: “The NHS has been an undisputed hero over the last 18 months, and it’s feared we may need to lean on them again as we go into winter.

“A firebreak could be something that really helps the NHS, as it begins to combat other seasonal illnesses like flu - but public opinion suggests this will be a hard sell.”

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