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EXCLUSIVE: 80% of Courier readers would back coronavirus lockdown into June, according to poll

Covid death toll

Locals have overwhelmingly backed a lockdown extension until at least June if it means beating the coronavirus pandemic.

In an online poll on The Courier’s website, which ran for several days, almost 5,000 readers said they would back maintaining strict restrictions on their freedoms into the summer.

In unprecedented measures to curb the Covid-19 infection rate, people across the UK have been unable to leave their properties except for important shopping, a daily exercise, to provide medical care, or to travel to and from essential work.

New legislation has given police the power to close businesses in breach of social distancing rules or to fine anyone found leaving their homes for anything other than a “reasonable purpose”.

At the time the lockdown measures came into force – on Tuesday, March 24 – UK citizens were warned they could continue in some form for at least 13 weeks, or possibly even longer.

As recently as Wednesday evening, UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab warned that a second lockdown is possible if the measures are lifted too soon due to a “second spike” of Covid-19 cases.

The Courier’s poll asked readers: “Would you accept having a lockdown into June?”

As of Thursday morning, 4,776 people had taken part.

Of this number 3,837 (80.34%) answered yes, believing the restrictions should only be lifted when the time is right.

A total of 939 (19.66%) answered no and felt May should be long enough to bring the pandemic under control.