Every day a new front page, political interview with a minister or radio phone-in seems to concentrate on the same thing - will, on June 14, the government announce that as of June 21 covid restrictions will either be mostly or completely lifted?
Today, a Times report says ministers are considering changing the 21 June 'end of restrictions' date for two weeks or even a month to give businesses 'certainty', allow more people to have two vaccines and to come into line with school holidays.
When will we know about 21 June?
The Prime Minister is set to announced plans for when all restrictions will be lifted on Monday, June 14, but with leaks in the newspapers rife before announcements, many are googling 'When will we know about 21 June?' 'Will lockdown really end on 21st June' and June 21 delay'.
Many reports now claim that with the rising delta variant and increased infections and hospitalisations, the Prime Minister's promise that he'd follow the data and not dates, could mean a delay to June 21 plans for all social distancing measures to be relaxed.
Would you be happy with a June 21 delay?
In what seems like a different decade, Boris Johnson and the government announced their roadmap out of covid lockdown - June 21 was the last date on the list, as the date that the Prime Minister said all legal limits on social contact could end. The date when restrictions will lift, social distancing could end and we could stop wearing maskshas thereby continually been equated to the magic date of June 21 and in turn June 14 when the government has said they'll reveal whether that date can go ahead.
It was inevitable then, that there would be 'final countdown' style frenzy to June 21 - a date circled in the calendar as this 'all being over'.
Except, with many in their late 20s just starting to book in their first dose of vaccines and a new Indian variant (known as the Delta variant by the World Health Organisation) constantly hitting the news, it doesn't really feel 'all over'. And that's why more and more people I speak to are (despite the frenzied 24-hour coverage pinned on JUNE 21!!!! JUNE 14!!!!!!) in no rush for 'the great unlocking' to go head just yet.
'Have we not learnt from any previous mistakes?' Sarah* told me. 'We know the Indian variant is rising exponentially at the moment and not everyone’s vaccinated. Why rush to open everything up for some arbitrary date if it means risking more deaths or another proper lockdown down the line? We’ve already got nearly all of our freedoms back and can do nearly everything we want. If changing course now meant people going back to lonely, solitary lives at home then that’d be different, but we can see friends and family, go for drinks and out for dinner, indoors and out. It would just mean putting the breaks on huge gatherings and sticking with face masks and social distancing where possible – which seems completely reasonable and definitely the most sensible thing.'
As Sarah says, in many ways, people I've spoken to (after one of the most miserable winters on record) feel like the situation we have now is enough - it feels like a lot, a gift, if anything. And many of us can operate within the confines of those restrictions and live a life where we feel both 'free' and 'protected' at the moment.
'I am happy about restrictions not being fully lifted for a little while,' Rose told me. 'During lockdown, I have had the chance to focus on different projects including renovating my home, working on my second book, starting my PhD while also having a job. Slowing down has helped me focusing on different things at the same time, accomplishing different projects while also saving money.'
Some may bend the rules as they stand a little too close to each other - but feel armed with knowledge to keep safe and ultimately that still being 'in lockdown' to some extent keeps a slight lid on people's behaviours. Or, to put it as Penny said: 'I've had two friends 'pinged' by the Test and Trace app this week - things fee a bit scary again. At the moment at least there's a bit of a cap on things, use a mask, wash your hands... scowl at people who don't do those bare minimums. To lift everything suddenly just seems like a licence for dickheads to feel like they are just now legal dickheads.'
It's really important to say, as ever, that this is a really privileged position to be in. Businesses - those in hospitality and travel especially - will be counting down the days until June 21. There are some who a return to the office and 'more normality' is really important for their mental health. There are still a lot of people struggling because of the way we live now.
But despite this, plenty of us are hesitant to rush into a world where face masks aren't compulsory on your journey to work and in your local coffee shop... but returning to the office might be.
Surely THE millions of people who are now back in those public-facing businesses should also be considered? Back on the front line again, without protection but little choice because of their employment? Now that many businesses are open, they might be desperate for things to get busier, but would they feel the same if they didn't have the the ability to ask someone to use the hand sanitiser and put on a maskat the door?
And unless people feel safe, they're not going to rush back. into a crowded pub or to a gig anyway. Signs on doors, staff wearing masks, wearing yours when you go to the loo... these things help a lot of us with anxieties 'open up' our social lives comfortably.
Many of the people I spoke to were aware of the issues current restrictions create for some businesses, but still felt that for them, personally, where we are now works well. 'I feel quite anxious about all the restrictions being lifted in the 21st,' one told me. 'For me, things are ok as they are. I am lucky that my business works fine online but can understand why other businesses may feel differently and want all the restrictions gone.'
Another added: 'I imagine I'd feel very differently if I was a business owner, but personally I've always been really uneasy about 21 June when huge numbers of people still won't have been fully vaccinated, and many young people still won't have had first dose.'
What about weddings after June 21? What will the new wedding covid rules be?
Understandably, lots of people are also frustrated by the lack of guidance on weddings - some of whom are on their third attempt at reorganising a date for the wedding. There are also huge concerns about whether many in the wedding industry can survive much more uncertainty.
However, it's been reported thatguest limits on weddings will be lifted from the 21st of June even if other restrictions remain in place.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: What Are The New Rules For Weddings?
Ultimately, many people we spoke to feel that if delaying the roadmap and sticking with life as it is for a few months longer to get some more vaccinations under our belt and for the NHS to pick themselves back up from the floor, that would be fine by them. More than fine if it meant avoiding another lockdown in autumn and winter.
'I'm wary that if we carry on with the current timeframe, we're just going to end up in a situation where stricter restrictions have to be reintroduced,' John* told me. 'If we have to delay we should do it, for a greater level of freedom down the road. I thought we were going by data, not dates anyway?'
For many of us then, we'll be hoping the government listens to the science - and the whatever is the true national mood (not the shouting small, anti-vaxx marches WHICH ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY THINK THEY ARE PROTESTING AGAINST OR FEEL THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO). Because for the first time in a while, some of us feel like we're probably ok as is - and would rather not run before we can walk and trip our way into more trouble down the line.
*** Some names have been changed**
READ MORE: So, When Can We Stop Wearing Face Masks?
READ MORE: Coronavirus: What Are The New Rules For Weddings?