A third of people aged 25-40 support nightclub closures as Covid spikes

UKHSA will monitor JN.1 variant closely, denoting the strain “of particular interest” because of its mutation and “increasing prevalence within the UK and international data”

A third of millennials would support the closure of nightclubs amid a rise in symptomatic Covid cases, according to research by non-profit organisation, More in Common. It comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 7,862 weekly cases up to and including December 27th, 2023.

The research, carried out among over 2000 adults over 18, showed 33% of millennial respondents (aged 25-40 and also known as Generation Y) would support the move, compared with 31% of Generation Z (age 18-24), 27% of Generation X (age 41-55) and baby boomers (age 56-74), and 23% of the silent generation (age 75+). Greater London (36%) and North East England (35%) were the areas most supportive of the measure.

Nearly half of those surveyed also supported the reintroduction of mandatory face masks or facial coverings, with 41% of Gen Z, 44% of Gen Y, 46% of Gen X, 46% of Baby Boomers, and 45% of the silent generation supporting the measure. Support was strongest in Greater London (52%) and the East of England (47%).

The closure of pubs and restaurants was supported by 25% of Gen Z and millennials, 18% of Gen X and 17% of baby boomers; just 12% of the silent generation supported the measure. Backing was strongest in Greater London (30%) and North East England (25%).

“While the majority of the public do not back a return to lockdown, there is clearly a significant minority who do.”

“While the majority of the public do not back a return to lockdown, there is clearly a significant minority who do,” said Ed Hodgson, More in Common UK associate. “The polling shows the UK public’s often quite relaxed approach to fairly heavy-handed government intervention, and suggests that the rules put in place during the Covid pandemic has not weakened willingness to accept these measures for large groups of the public”

Preliminary figures show 1.2% of people in England had infection at the end of November 2023, according to raw figures released in December and reported by the BMJ. The biggest increases week on week were seen in the South East, the East Midlands, and the East of England, with infections highest – and rising most quickly – in 18–34-year-olds, followed by middle aged adults and then children. The lowest infection rates were among people over 75.

As people emerge from the festive break it’s possible there will be a rise in infections. "The latest research from UKHSA shows that approximately one in every 24 people could test positive for COVID-19 infection at the current time,” said Dr Hana Patel, Clinical General Practitioner and Honorary Lecturer at the University of Kent. “Prevalence rates were highest in people aged 18 to 44 years, and the highest prevalence regionally was found in London.

“Some people may wish to re-introduce their face mask, others may want to avoid large gatherings or venues with lots of people such as nightclubs for example."

UKHSA has denoted JN.1 as a variant of particular interest because of its mutation and “increasing prevalence within the UK and international data” and will be monitoring it closely.

However, it has not yet been designated as a Variant of Concern (VOC) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), rather it is a Variant of Interest (VOI) and current evidence shows risk to public health was low from the strain.

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