From the Dover Express, 20 May 2021. By James Jubert.

‘IT SUITS THEM TO HAVE US LOCKED UP WHILE THEY BLAME THE NEW VARIANT'

AS friends gather across Kent to celebrate bars re-opening indoors this week, and with nightclubs due to follow next month, there is hope that life is returning to normal.

However, last week Boris Johnson admitted that the new Indian variant of Covid-19 might pose a risk to the final stage of unlocking, currently due to take place on June 21.

The number of infections is at its highest in London, and the concentration is worst in the north west.

And there is concern among the UK’s leading scientists about the strain impacting the entire country, after watching the Kent variant spreading rapidly in December.

Sadly, the Indian variant has made its way to the south east as well, with 20 cases reported in Kent between May 2 and 8.

Karen Witter - better known as Mama K - owns The Rum Clinic in Folkestone, which is due to open its doors tomorrow (Friday). She is excited to welcome back the town's revellers once again - but is not confident that this re-opening will be the end of closures for the town’s publicans and bar owners.

She said: "I am taking it week by week right now.

"I am watching the news only to find out what will affect my business because it is too depressing otherwise.

"When they extended the furlough until April I thought there was going to be another lock-down, and the same thing will happen again this year. The Indian variant will be the reason for locking us down again.

"But I think they're doing lots behind the scenes, and it suits them to have us locked up while they blame it on the new variant.

"I do not believe the statistics and am very sceptical of the news and think much of it is propaganda.”