The Newark Advertiser asked what people think about the covid-19 variant and suggested changes to government guidelines

With covid cases rising, potentially fuelled by a highly transmissible new variant, the possibility of a return to restrictions has been raised.

We went out into Newark town centre to ask people what they think about a return of mandatory face masks, limiting the number of people in gatherings, or even lockdowns?

The latest descendant of Omicron, known as XBB.1.5. is highly transmissible.

The concern of not taking measures is regarding the number of admissions in hospitals and the pressure put on NHS staff, appointments and resources available.

Resident Steven Kicks said: “They want to prevent more people from getting it, in that sense I am okay with that. I prefer not to go back to lockdown because it caused so many problems for elderly people and affected a lot of businesses as well.

“They were supposedly working out vaccines and where are we? Three years into it now?

“I feel like a new lockdown would destroy the economy. “

On the other hand, resident Joe said: “In my opinion bringing masks and other enforcements wouldn't make any difference.

“I haven’t been vaccinated, I haven't even caught covid, that I know about. There’s vulnerable people and all that but in my opinion it doesn't matter any more, not at this point.”

Those the Advertiser spoke to shared the general idea that it would be acceptable if masks became mandatory and some minor restrictions put in place for people's safety.

However, the idea of a potential lockdown was immediately discarded either due to people’s mental health or how it affects the economy.

“I still think we should be enforcing it, because if one reads the papers, including The Advertiser the flu and covid numbers are all still going up and we’ll end up like China. It’s worse apparently the second time around,” said resident Alan Curtis.

Stuart Workman said: “For me it is all about safety, I am safe as long as everybody is. If you have to do something for your own safety, you just do it, you ignore it.”

The new variant hasn’t proved until the time being to be more dangerous or health damaging.

Yet it is advisable for people to take voluntary steps to reduce transmission.

A Nottinghamshire nurse said: “Lockdown hasn't worked, the virus is still there.

“The virus is getting weaker, we just need to learn to live with it.

“Going back to lockdown will only compound the issues we already have. More problems for the hospitals.

“Lockdown has caused the next pandemic, and that is the mental health pandemic.

“What it did to children and to older adults, we’re only just starting to see the tips of lockdown.”