Coronavirus lockdown: Readers react to Boris Johnson's announcement

Boris is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. It would be the same for any prime minister from any political party. I certainly wouldn't want to be in his position right now. Whatever he does there will be those that moan and whinge and ignore the rules.

Christine Flynn

Johnson should have gone into lockdown using half-term holiday - his decisions have been terrible, and this government have made a total mess of it, we have one of the highest death rates in the world!

It’s ok with you that they pay private IT consultants £5,000 per DAY, and won’t feed hungry children a lunchtime meal?!

Nicky Whitecross

Before everyone starts ranting and raving, listen to what he has to say, accept what he has to say, you cannot change it because you don’t know how to, he has a team of experts feeding him information, they don’t have all the answers so it’s sure as hells on fire we don’t.

Just suck it up.

JoJo Dlofnip

This is happening again because the moaners and whingers have ignored the rules – mostly the young and students. Now we are all paying the price.

Brian Matthews

It should never have been made. Trash the economy.

Paul Sands Turnbull

How is shutting pubs and restaurants going to help yet allowing schools, colleges and unis to remain open!? Makes no sense! But then again let’s see what happens!

Claire Marshall

Well it didn’t work the first time did it. The R numbers are down why the lockdown U-turn? Hospitals are empty even though he is saying the opposite!

Kids can go to school and yet there is that deadly virus which will kill us if we go out!

Denise Vaughan

It’s easy to back lockdown when your job isn’t at risk and you’re on full pay. I wonder if these clowns were threatened with pay cuts/unemployment they’d be so keen.

Matt Carter

Yes..this should have happened weeks ago. Also if the numerous idiots didn’t ignore the Covid-19 rules it may not be as bad as it is getting now! I honestly can’t see why the nurseries, schools colleges and unis are staying open. Just doesn’t make sense! I can partly understand where Boris is coming from (thinking of the economy) but I think the situation will take longer to slow down! Whatever decision Boris makes, he will always get people moaning!

Lorna McDougall

You can't please all of the people all of the time. No one wants this, it's just what has to happen.

Johanna Brunsden

Why do people keep saying ‘lockdown didn’t work the first time’? It certainly did! The aim was to slow the spread and reduce pressure on the NHS, our hospitals. It did that. We’ve been told, almost since the start, that it could take 2/3 years, to get some control over the situation...the whole world is trying to deal with this! The best we can all do is reduce the spread, wait for a vaccine, more research to improve treatment and...wait for it...follow the rules! This virus is going nowhere and lockdown is not a miracle ‘cure’.

Julie Bishop

We may be bored with the virus. The virus is not bored with us. Keep safe all. Xx

Lorna Brindley

That’s the country financially screwed for decades! Hope airports and ports are also locked down to people coming in!

Debi Mills

Why are schools, colleges and universities being allowed to remain open yet they are blatantly attacking the hospitality industry by shutting down pubs and restaurants?

Claire Marshall

Okay so it’s us students’ fault but we’re still going to have to go into uni? Can’t wait to get blamed again

Hannah Trueman

It Is not one demographic of people.. it is one type of people.. The ones that either don't care.. are too stupid to understand or plain don't want to try and understand. However it is true that by allowing students to move between cities and them moving around classes etc the student population has got a high % of cases. Which is a shame for them and has made student life (which is meant to be as much fun as learning) not much fun!

Deborah Amanda Paterson

Thankfully it's only a minority of narrow-minded people that think it's all students’ fault. It's just unfortunate that they seem to rant the loudest! Most of us understand that like all groups of society some are behaving like selfish idiots but many more are being responsible and making sacrifices. We also appreciate that it's today’s students will be tomorrow's doctors, nurses etc. Keep doing your best, many of us appreciate and understand your situation.

Jennie Slade