As Scotland eases out of lockdown Nicola Sturgeon has announced that stricter measures will be reimposed, including restricting social gatherings and travel, if even a minority continue to flout the rules. 

In England we have witnessed weeks of people completely ignoring the social distancing measures as they flock to beaches and other outdoor spaces and yet nothing is being done to stop this.

While COVID 19 is less transmissible outdoors this is only the case if social distancing is maintained. 

It is unfair on those of us who are obeying the rules in order to allow us to ease out of lockdown as safely as possible and avoid a 2nd peak of the virus, when nothing is done to change the behaviour of those who aren’t.

Worse then that it is putting us ALL at risk of a second wave and another full lockdown.

The issue surrounding Dominic Cummings, regardless of how it was dealt with, shouldn’t be used as an excuse for mass irresponsible behaviour nor as a reason for Boris Johnson to turn a blind eye to what’s happening on a much wider scale and was already happening even before news of Dominic Cummings’ action came to light.

The petition demands that Boris Johnson steps in NOW and takes action to prevent an ongoing repetition of the scenes we have seen across England every time the sun shines, even if this means reimposing stricter measures for a period of time.

Those same people who ignored the rules around gathering in public open spaces are now allowed to meet others in private gardens where the risk of infection and the chance to break the rules and get away with it is even higher. 

The situation can’t be allowed to go on as it is. The Government needs to step up, step in and show us they are taking the gradual easing of lockdown seriously.