“UNLOCK the country on June 21” is the overwhelming view from Echo readers as “freedom day” - which would see restrictions scrapped - hangs in the balance. 

In just three weeks’ time, providing the Government’s roadmap continues, nightclubs could re-open and restrictions on large events, such as festivals, may be lifted.

It’s hoped that by the landmark date, the country will also be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact, while the work from home message is also expected to be scrapped.

Although all stages in the roadmap have gone ahead on schedule, the Government has not yet confirmed whether the next step will take place, following major concerns around the Indian variant. 

There have been three confirmed cases detected in Southend, along with two suspected cases in Basildon.

In an Echo poll on Twitter, 563 people voted and 54.9 per cent said restrictions should be lifted.

Writing on the Echo’s Facebook page, Donna Sutton has called for June 21 to go ahead as planned.

She said: “Just unlock. There’s always going to be new variants. We can’t keep living like this and need just need to start getting on with our lives again.”

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David Wootton added: “We will always get the variants, what are we going to do put restrictions in every time a new one appears. It’s time to live with this now.”

When announcing the four-part plan back in February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the roadmap will “guide us cautiously but irreversibly towards reclaiming our freedoms”.

Readers also understood the difficulty facing Mr Johnson, making such a big decision on behalf of the entire nation.

The latest data, published on Sunday, revealed Southend has a case rate of 13.1 cases per 100,000 people. Basildon’s rate stands at 9.1.

Simon Grimes said: “He can’t do wrong or right. 

“Whatever you think of Boris I wouldn’t like his job.”

However, Nick Ball said: “I totally understand people’s frustrations.

“However it’s better to keep restrictions in place and protect lives rather than open it all up.”