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Pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and cinemas in England are opening their doors for the first time in three months after further relaxation of coronavirus blocking restrictions.
Companies that reopen on Saturday must observe strict rules of social distancing.
As the measures slowed, Boris Johnson urged people to act responsibly, while government scientific advisers said the last step was not “risk free.”
The health secretary warned that those who let themselves go could be jailed.
Matt Hancock told the Daily Mail that people had a right to have fun in pubs, but added: “You could end up behind bars if you break the law.”
Restaurants, hair salons, and movie theaters were allowed to reopen just after midnight, and some hair salons welcomed customers in the early hours, but pubs had to wait until 06:00 BST after Downing Street voiced fear of morning parties.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that people should make the most of the economy to boost the economy, and told the Times: “We have to relearn what it’s like to go out again.”
Sunak said that while people must act responsibly, eating out will help protect jobs in the hospitality sector.
The rules for social distancing in England have also changed from 2m to “one more meter”, which means that people must keep more than 1m apart and take extra precautions when they are less than 2m from someone else.
On Friday night, England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said people should take a “truly disciplined approach” to social distancing by warning of the risk of the coronavirus spreading in bars.
He said there was a “real chance” of a second wave of the virus, which “increases sharply” if people don’t take social distancing measures seriously.
Speaking at a Downing Street coronavirus briefing, he said the country would see health and economic problems as a result of the pandemic, with the government trying to travel a “narrow path.”
Ministers hope to rely on effective testing, tracing, and targeted local blocks to contain the virus in the future.
This is a great time. Hospitality chiefs have described it as a major development for the national psyche.
But it is also a time when economic and health concerns collide.
Trade body Hospitality UK estimates that 53% of pubs and bars and 47% of restaurants will reopen this weekend generating a total, they hope, of nine million visits.
But while a sector that employs three million people is eager to reopen, many are eager. Will too many clients return to manage places safely or too few to make it worth it financially?
Social distancing measures will reduce capacity and increase front-line costs.
Three-quarters of companies expect to run their businesses at a loss this year, and the industry estimates that even if this weekend goes well, the sector could lose 320,000 jobs.
It is a high risk gamble and the government will nervously watch to see how the public responds and behaves.
Ultimately, that will determine whether we are getting a sufficient financial investment for the health risk that medical experts say we will inevitably spend this weekend.
BBC science and health correspondent James Gallagher said: “If we diligently follow the rules or, to borrow a phrase, ‘we rip our pants off,’ it will dictate how common regional blockades become.
“Some scientists think we are going too far, too soon. Therefore, the pressure will be on health officials to quickly detect and contain outbreaks before they become a national problem.”
Other places that can now reopen in England include:
- Outdoor gyms, playgrounds, and other outdoor spaces.
- Libraries, community centers, bingo halls, cinemas, museums and galleries.
- Amusement parks and theme parks, game rooms, outdoor skating rinks, social clubs, and model towns.
Johnson said next week a schedule will be set for the reopening of other businesses, including gyms, nail salons and nightclubs.
- Closed theaters wrapped in messages of support
- Recreational cricket to resume, PM says
Sandra Jacobs was one of the first people through her local hairdressers’ door in Camden, north London, on Friday night, describing her as “a relief” to be back in the salon chair.
She said her haircut made her feel “normal again”.
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Sandra Jacobs booked a midnight appointment at Carole Rickaby’s hair salon
Her hairdresser, Carole Rickaby, said it was great to pick up the scissors again. “We are being very cautious with aprons and face masks, but it can be a problem,” he said. “I wear glasses, so wearing a mask also made me put on the glasses every time I tried to speak.
“I ended up telling Sandra that she can talk to me and that I’ll just listen.”
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Meanwhile, Prince William visited a village pub in Norfolk that had been closed since March.
What is going on in the rest of the UK?
The closure measures of each UK country differ, including different rules on the reopening of food and drink establishments.
In Northern Ireland, pubs and restaurants could reopen on Friday.
In Scotland, beer gardens and open-air restaurants will be able to reopen from July 6, and indoor areas can be used from July 15.
The Welsh government has promised talks with the hotel sector about a “potential by stages” reopening, but no dates have yet been given.
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You can read more about how to ease the lock where you live here.
The latest figures show that another 137 people died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total number of deaths to 44,131.
In other developments:
- Recreational cricket could resume starting next weekend, Prime Minister said
- Nearly 30,000 more nursing home residents in England and Wales died during the coronavirus outbreak than during the same period in 2019, ONS figures show.
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Portugal has said that its exclusion from a list of countries for which quarantine will not apply to people returning to England is “absurd”
- Dozens of landmarks across the country will light up in blue later to mark 72 years since the NHS was founded.
- THE FUTURE OF THE THEATER INDUSTRY: Dame Judi Dench on the impact of the coronavirus
- TALKING HEADS: Imelda Staunton and Sarah Lancashire take the much-loved monologues
