A HEALTH boss has said the next fortnight is the key to understanding the new variant and whether it will cause a delay to the June 21 lockdown easing.

New Covid-19 cases in Cumbria remained low in week ending May 28 with just 40 new cases recorded, compared to 39 in the previous week.

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, spoke about the recent news that Tuesday marked the first day with no Covid deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Steve Grewcock said: "So let me get this straight. People still want everyone to stay at home and schools to shut again? How exactly do we provide water, gas, electricity, food, if everyone stays at home?"

James Albertson said: "Why does everyone seem to think that lockdown should be considered every again? If they worked so well why didn't the first one work, why didn't the second one work, and then if that wasn't enough when it should have been why didn't the third one work?"

David Thomson said: "Stay home and do not travel and don't encourage tourists to visit the Lake District or Cumbria as the northwest of England is a very high-risk area for various reasons including tourism to places like the Lakes Blackpool Yorkshire Derbyshire. Please can everybody listen this time up in the North prevented from spreading and it's not Game of Thrones."

Callum Snow said: "I'm just glad the levels are remaining as low as they are. One day it'll be over."

Lucy Bomont said: "Just please can the lockdown and Covid be over and can it never ever come back?"