Britain is still facing more than a month of curbs on social freedoms, even though 50million vaccine doses have been administered and death rates are far lower than the five-year average. So is it now time to lift all restrictions? Here are the arguments for and against from scientists: Yes, it’s time to lift Many scientists believe it is time to allow the public to decide for themselves whether they want to meet indoors, wear masks or observe social distancing. The latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) modelling on antibody rates suggests that around 65 per cent of the English population now has some immunity and, despite shops and schools opening, case rates have continued to fall.