Boris Johnson, Britain’s prime minister, who said earlier this week that it was the British “patriotic duty” to go to the pub when they reopen on Saturday, has now urged people not to “overdo it.” His warning came after tens of thousands flocked to the beaches, threw illegal music parties, and violated social distancing rules in recent weeks.
Britain has reported the third highest number of pandemic deaths in the world, with triple digit death counts still being recorded on most days.
“Let’s not screw it up now, folks,” Johnson told LBC radio on Friday, weeks after announcing that the country’s “long hibernation” was over and that the virus was under control. Restaurant industry workers have said in the British media that they were afraid to return to work, and there is great concern that bar patrons may ignore the ground rules and trigger new waves of infections.
On Wednesday, the Treasury tweeted that people should “have a drink and raise a glass” when pubs reopen. The tweet was later removed. A pub in South London has promised an “endless supply” of drinks to “fuel its antics”, after more than three months of closure, which was the first in the history of the country’s pubs.
Pubs, such as restaurants, beauty salons, and other companies that will welcome visitors back on Saturday, will have to keep a 21-day record of their customers, according to the government, to track contacts in case of new outbreaks.
In Leicester, 100 miles north of London, pubs and other nonessential businesses will be closed due to a regional outbreak of virus cases.
British authorities also announced on Friday that starting July 10, travelers from countries in Europe, including France, Italy and Spain, will no longer have to be quarantined for 14 days. Currently, the change will only apply to England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland expected to set their own rules.
