We need to talk about SOHO, in fact we need to talk about one street in SOHO, Old Compton Street and specifically, the Wardour Street end of Old Compton Street which was the source of much outrage yesterday.
1/

Those with good memories will remember similar outrage last year, focussed on this very part of this very street when the media rushed there to be shocked by the feckless youth of London and to claim that this would be the source of whatever Covid wave was next in line.
2/

There are reasons why they chose this particular street, it’s because every second premises on both sides of the road is a bar or a restaurant. It’s a narrow, busy street, one of the few places in London where gay men can feel safe.
Perfect for the shock factor.
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It is not representative of other streets in London and even if it were, infection rates are incredibly low, testing is high, half the population has had a first vaccination and outdoor settings lead to very little infection.
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We have all done so well and young people have sacrificed so much but the chances of keeping them locked down for much longer are falling fast. If this level of activity does lead to unacceptable rates of infection, the recovery plan can be tweaked.
5/

Fourth-wavers were anticipating it when schools opened before Easter. Didn’t happen and it won’t happen because some young people stretched their wings yesterday.
Whilst we must certainly continue to be cautious, it’s time to re-enter society without excess pearl-clutching.
End