Dr Hilary dubs Freedom Day ‘Fateful Day’ as he doubles down on concerns over lifting of restrictions

Today is the long-awaited ‘Freedom Day,’ when life in the country can essentially revert to how it was before Covid-19 struck, but Dr Hilary Jones has again shared his concerns over the lifting of restrictions.

After more than a year-and-a-half of lockdowns and restrictions, almost all remaining measures have been lifted today in England.

This means nightclubs can finally reopen, people will no longer have to put a six-person cap on dinner bookings, and many will begin to return to the workplace.

Dr Hilary Jones spoke to Ranvir Singh on Lorraine this morning about his concerns over the lifting of restrictions.

‘Is it freedom day or fateful day?’ he queried, as they watched a video of young people celebrating the easing of restrictions last night.

Ranvir said: ‘I look at those pictures and I feel for young people, they’ve had a year of their youthful life taken from them.’

Dry Hilary Jones has concerns over the lifting of restrictions (Picture: ITV/Getty)

While Dr Hilary said he had sympathy for young people sacrificing their social life, he still shared his concerns over restrictions being lifted completely.

‘[Young people] have been cooped up and imprisoned in the four walls of their home and they want to let their hair down, they want freedom, whether that’s a sensible bit of guidance or not that remains to be seen,’ he said.

The general practitioner said that every restriction is being abandoned across the country.

He added: ‘We’re the only country in the world doing this right now, with soaring cases and increasing hospitalisations and millions of people not having their first vaccination, let alone the second.

Ranvir Singh is hosting the show while Lorraine Kelly is away (Picture: ITV)

‘It is a big experiment and there is a body of scientists around the world joining signatories in a paper saying that this is a murderous exercise, they’re using that word, and they’re saying that it is a mistake.’

Dr Hilary further expanded on his concerns, which revolves around the increase in Covid cases.

He said that ‘not only will thousands of people will get Covid symptoms’ but a third of them will end up having long Covid.

‘There will be an increase in hospitalisations. This is something we need to be concerned about,’ he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently isolating (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

‘As we’ve heard from young people working in ITU today, they’re seeing a lot of young people within ITU who are quite severely hill who are normally fit and healthy, so it is something we need to be concerned about.

‘We know that one-fifth of NHS staff in hospitals are self-isolating, putting a great strain on those that are still there and affecting those with cancer and heart disease.’

More: Boris Johnson

This comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are currently isolating after being contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

In a dramatic U-turn Sunday morning, the PM abandoned heavily criticised plans to take daily tests rather than self-isolate following meetings with Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who tested positive for Covid on the weekend.

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : I haven’t left my house in over a year – Freedom Day has come too soon

MORE : Lorraine Kelly becomes ‘Lady’ as KSI surprises her with framed title: ‘I’ve even got a crest!’