This week, the News & Star reported the comments of an expert member of a leading Sage subgroup, who expressed the opinion that Britain could experience a 'close to normal' summer based on current estimates in relation to the Covid vaccine rollout.

Based on his calculations, if the current vaccine programme continues at its current rate of effectiveness, this could mean that the UK would be in a position to ease controls in the coming months.

Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of Sage subgroup the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), said scientists believed vaccines would block transmission of coronavirus but it was not yet known by how much.

In a moment of real promise, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “If we think optimistically, if we follow the trajectory of the rollout of the vaccine, then hopefully we can be easing out of these controls that we’ve got in place sometime in March.”

Reader Pat Kirkup took to Facebook to express her optimism at the news of The Covid variants are making me less optimistic, but oh I do hope so. Our scientists have made us so proud & I’m hoping they can adjust the vaccines if necessary! Keeping everything crossed!"

Fellow reader Ray McBride echoed her positive message by expressing belief that life may return to normal in the next six months.

"Of course it will! Let's be optimistic going forward," he stated.

Alice Murphy also added her hopes that another summer will not be lost to the pandemic stating her hopes that Britain would begin to turn the tide on the virus in the coming months: "I would like to think so because we lost last year and by summer that’s another half a year!

She did warn, however, that she feels certain regulations will remain in place for a longer time saying: "Although think a lot of changes made will stay in place for a very long time."

Terri McDonald also was in hopeful mood and agreed saying: "I think everyone would love that for everything to go back to normal here's hoping."