The PM thought the worst would now be over. But normal looks a long way off

The beginning of August was supposed to mark a psychological turning point – when the British people could begin to believe that their lives were returning to normal. As families prepared to head away on holiday, the government had been clear that its priorities were for schools and universities to reopen in September and for as many people as possible to return to their workplaces by the autumn. As Boris Johnson said a fortnight ago, in a speech in Downing Street, his hope was that there could be a “significant return to normality” by Christmas. The...