To applaud the handful of members in the chamber, the famous prime minister said the daily rituals of British life would return.
“Almost as eagerly awaited as a pint,” he said, “it will be a haircut, especially for me.”
Although several countries have reduced their social distancing rules, the evidence for their effect is mixed and has become a contentious issue as governments reopen their economies. The World Health Organization advises people to keep a distance of “at least one meter”, while the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people be kept apart “at least six feet “or two meters.
“It will be much more risky to go to a subway,” said Susan Michie, a professor of health psychology at University College London, a member of the government’s advisory panel. “If the government were honest with the public, they would say, ‘This is a riskier strategy, but we are still taking it for economic reasons.'”
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are making their decisions to facilitate the blockade separately, with Scotland and Wales advancing more slowly than England.
Under the new plans, hairdressers in England will be able to open, as well as places of worship, cinemas, concert halls and other entertainment venues, although they will not be allowed to present live performances. Wedding ceremonies will be allowed and more people will be allowed to gather inside.
However, there will still be restrictions to avoid larger indoor gatherings, and indoor gyms, nightclubs, swimming pools, bowling alleys, water parks, and nail bars will remain closed for now.
Johnson is expected to announce new measures this week to relax the country’s 14-day visitor quarantine by negotiating quarantine-free travel corridors between Britain and several European countries. This comes after intense lobbying by the airline and tourism industries.
