Johnson reveals plan to ease lockout, but return from racing remains unclear | Horse Racing News

The restart date for British races remained uncertain on Sunday night after the prime minister unveiled his plan to ease the coronavirus blockade.

Speaking from Downing Street, Boris Johnson detailed a three-part strategy to reopen the partnership and end the shutdown. The UK is working towards the second stage and the government has eased some social restrictions, including the limit on outdoor exercise.

Calling the plan “conditional” to keep the virus under control, Johnson added that the second phase will potentially allow elementary students to return to school starting June 1, and the third phase would involve some areas of the hotel industry, such as restaurants, to begin reopening from July 1.

It is unclear at what stage races could be allowed to return and the possibility of a restart will be subject to discussions next week.

Johnson said: “It has been almost two months since the people of this country began to endure restrictions on their freedom, their freedom, of a type that we have never seen before in peace or war.

“We have made progress, but this is not the time to end the blockade. Instead, we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.”

A total of 31,855 people have died from Covid-19 in the UK, an increase of 269 As of Saturday, and medical experts continue to trust that the infection rate, or R rate, is less than one, meaning that, on average, anyone infected with the virus transmits it to less than someone else.

This has allowed the government to start moving towards the next phase of easing its blocking measures, which will depend on an alert system that classifies the level of threat of the virus throughout the country.

As part of the first phase of easing social restrictions, Johnson has encouraged people who cannot work from home, like those under construction, to feel comfortable going back to work.

While advising people to stay home whenever possible, the government has also introduced a softened slogan and told the public to “stay alert, control the virus and save lives,” although this new guide has not been released. adopted in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

The return of sport.

The restart of the racing group will meet on Monday to consider its next steps after Johnson made no reference to the return of professional sport, although it was previously suggested that it would be one of the first sectors allowed to resume if the blockade was eased. .

Racing representatives participated in a series of meetings with government officials last week about their detailed proposals for a closed-door restart.

Consultations with riders and racetracks continue to ensure that the sport can safely return when given the green light.

On Thursday, the race group resumption released a tentative race schedule for the first week of action, reprogramming Pattern’s races and establishing a series of restrictions that include fields for 12 riders and the initial participation of only experienced riders.

The group has balked at setting a date for the sport’s return, but is believed to be working to restart on May 15, with tracks including Newcastle and Kempton reportedly poised to stage the first wave of matches, which they will be divided regionally.

However, it is understood that the process of deciding which tracks can organize meetings in the first seven days of the race is still ongoing.

Protocols for closed-door racing are also being refined by Dr. Jerry Hill, the BHA’s chief medical adviser, who has contacted the government medical director’s team and worked with representatives from other sports to provide form the plan for the resumption of sport.