Professor David Paton, Professor of Industrial Economics at Nottingham University Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has insisted that it is 'following the science'. But if that is really still the case, then there is absolutely no justification for any delay in lifting the final lockdown restrictions beyond June 21 and returning the country to normality. All the scientific data indicates that such a step will not lead to a dramatic surge in Covid hospitalisations or deaths, nor will the NHS be suddenly overwhelmed. Yet even in the face of such powerful evidence, a pessimistic mood seems to prevail in Whitehall.