A second wave of Covid-19 will punish the economy, lockdown or not

If coronavirus cases spike again consumers will lock down their spending and activity regardless

The weather was hot. The risks of catching Covid-19 had diminished. The two-metre social distancing rule was being cut to one metre. Boris Johnson said the months of hibernation were coming to an end.

Everything screamed the same message: time to say goodbye to the lockdown and hit the beach. Cue panic on the part of ministers and local officials fearful of a second spike in infections.

Related: The low-paid need Britain to reopen. But this outbreak isn't over