A Nottinghamshire MP has warned 'things might not be as rosy in the future' after Prime Minister Boris Johnson voiced concerns over the new Indian variant of coronavirus.
Mr Johnson was today (May 13) asked if he believes local lockdowns may be required in the future and responded to say he could not rule it out.
Tiered local lockdowns were a common introduction towards the end of last year but were eventually scrapped in favour of a nationwide lockdown after the festive period.
Gedling, Nottingham, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe were plunged into what was known as 'tier 3' lockdown, shortly before the entirety of the county followed suit at the end of October amid rising infections.
While England was released from its third lockdown as part of a roadmap, there are mounting concerns that new variants of Covid-19 could cause local outbreak areas to be placed into a lockdown once again, despite the ongoing success of the vaccination roll-out.
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, Mansfield MP and new leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Ben Bradley, said "it would be mad to rule anything out".
He said: "I think it has got to be fairly obvious that we cannot predict the future and therefore it is mad to rule out anything.
"We obviously hope that the data continues to be positive and that nothing like that is necessary, that is certainly the trend at the minute, there is no sense that we might need any.
"But I don't think it is insane to leave yourself the possibility that things might not be as rosy in the future. I think that is just common sense and good management."
While Downing Street admitted there were, at present, no plans for a return to the tiered system, Mr Johnson was said to be becoming increasingly 'anxious' over new strains.
Of particular concern is the new Indian variant (B.1.617.2) as well as a "variant of concern" which has recently been detected in Nottingham.
It is known as VOC-21APR-02.
Indications suggest the new variants are more transmissible but, so far, it is hoped vaccines remain effective.
Vaccines may also be adapted to become more effective against new variants.
Mr Johnson added: "If we have to do other things, then of course the public would want us to rule nothing out. We have always been clear we would be led by the data.
“At the moment, I can see nothing that dissuades me from thinking we will be able to go ahead on Monday and indeed on June 21, everywhere, but there may be things we have to do locally and we will not hesitate to do them if that is the advice we get.”
