Lockdown exit strategy is vital – The Yorkshire Post says

In the light of the deeply concerning projections that the NHS would effectively run out of beds by early December if the increase in coronavirus cases continues, Boris Johnson had little room for manoeuvre, even though he is on record as wishing to avoid a second national shutdown.

Nevertheless, there are questions to be asked of the Government’s handling of this latest crisis in the pandemic. The leak of the likelihood of a new lockdown at the weekend, and then the muddled announcement of it do not inspire confidence that Mr Johnson and his senior advisers have a sufficiently firm grip on events.

For the north, there is also the issue of trust in the Government, which was not willing to provide anything like the level of financial support for areas like West Yorkshire due to go into tier three restrictions that it is now offering.

But the overriding question for Mr Johnson concerns the exit strategy from the new lockdown. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove yesterday suggested that it may be extended beyond the December 2 deadline cited by Mr Johnson.

This is greatly worrying. Another indefinite lockdown could prove fatal for many businesses which barely survived the summer, with catastrophic consequences for the livelihoods of thousands of employees.

The Government cannot allow that to happen. Even with financial support, the fate of countless firms hangs in the balance, especially in the retail and hospitality sectors which would be especially hard-hit if Christmas trade is lost.

If Mr Johnson is to command the country’s confidence, he must set out a path not only to tackle infection rates, but to exit lockdown.

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