Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson reveals full closure exit plan

Boris Johnson admitted that ending the closure will be “extremely difficult” today as he unveiled an “exit plan” that could get family and friends together next month.

The prime minister downplayed expectations of a rapid end to misery for the country, saying going “too far and too fast” risked a second devastating spike.

In the Commons, he said the government would be driven “not by hope or economic recovery as an end in itself, but by data, science and public health.”

And bluntly dismissing criticism for a chaotic release of the changes, with No10 and Dominic Raab embarrassingly disagreeing on when the measures will go into effect and exactly how they will operate, Johnson said he was putting his faith in ‘solid British common sense.’ . “It worked during phase one and I have no doubt that it will also work in phase two,” he said.

The challenging note came when the government finally released its 50-page ‘road map’ this afternoon, charting a route through three stages to get the country moving.

The plan emphasized that all five tests have yet to be completed, so no significant loosening of the draconian curbs is possible.

But the document says “smarter” social distancing measures are being introduced to try to push the country into some kind of normalcy. In the future, the restrictions will focus ‘more precisely’, recognizing that ‘not all risks for all or all groups are equal’. It offers the possibility for shops, TV sports and nonessential weddings to start from next month, with the possibility of allowing people to socialize outside their homes in little ‘bubbles’.

However, it leaves no doubt that hairdressers, pubs and foreign holidays are much further.

The review will also apply only to England, as Nicola Sturgeon and her counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland have signaled they will stick to the previous hard-line message of “stay home.”

Explaining the first adjustments, the guidelines say those who can continue to work from home “for the foreseeable future,” and noted comprehensive health and safety guidelines to be released tomorrow.

Starting Wednesday, all workers are urged to return to their jobs in sectors such as food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research in laboratories.

“The only exceptions to this are those workplaces, such as hospitality and nonessential retail, which during this first step require the government to remain closed,” the document says.

The plan said schools cannot yet fully reopen, but more key workers should be encouraged to send their children. “There is a great social benefit to vulnerable children, or the children of critical workers, who attend school: local authorities and schools should therefore urge more children who would benefit from attending in person to do so. do, “he said.

The use of face covers is recommended for people on public transport and in closed spaces, something that happened in Scotland a fortnight ago.

The document also corrected another error overnight, clearly stating that people can play outdoor sports like tennis or golf with someone from another home.

On another turbulent day when the government’s plans threatened to fall into ruin:

• The United Kingdom today announced another 210 victims of the coronavirus, the lowest daily increase since March 26, as the official number of victims exceeded 32,000;
• A new analysis has suggested that people working in social care, including caregivers and domestic caregivers, along with bus drivers and security guards, have ‘significantly’ higher death rates involving Covid-19 than the general active population;
• Despite the publication of the “road map”, the guidelines for health and safety in the workplace will not be published until tomorrow;
• Johnson will be questioned in the Commons this afternoon and will be heading to a public event tonight, but he is not expected to lead a daily press conference No. 10;
• The audience figures for Johnson’s grand speech were 27.49 million the night before, more than 27.1 million for his original closing announcement and more than 23.3 million for the Queen. It was the eighth most watched show in British history;
• British Airways warned that the 14-day quarantine rule for arrivals in the UK could mean that flights will not start in July as expected;
• Jury trials in England and Wales will resume from next week, Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett has announced;

In his statement to the Commons, Johnson said: “We have begun our descent from the peak of the epidemic, but our journey has reached the most dangerous time when a wrong move could be disastrous.”

“So at this stage, we cannot go beyond announcing the first careful modification of our measures.”

He said: ‘This is an extremely difficult balance to achieve.

“There could be no greater mistake than jeopardizing everything we have strived to achieve by going too far and too fast.”

“We will not be driven by hope or economic revival as an end in itself, but by data, science and public health.”

Johnson encouraged people to drive, walk, or bike to work, but also told MPs: ‘With more activity outside of our homes, we would now advise people to wear a cloth that covers their faces in confined spaces where social distancing is not always possible and you are more likely to come into contact with people you don’t normally know.

‘Facial linings can help protect each other and reduce the spread of the disease, especially if you have coronavirus-like symptoms.

“But this does not mean wearing medical masks … that should be reserved for people who need them.”

Johnson said “there is nothing we can do for the pools,” but the changes to allow people to access the lakes and the sea will take effect on Wednesday because there is “less risk outdoors than indoors,” and He reiterated that there will be no limits to the frequency of outdoor exercise during relaxation of blocking measures.

‘Now you can walk, sit and rest in the parks, you can play sports and exercise and you can do all these things with members of your own home or with another person from another home as long as you observe the social distancing and stay two meters from away, ‘he said.

I hope it is clear.

Johnson said the fines will increase for those who break the rules, starting from £ 100 and doubling with each violation to £ 3,600.

“You can drive wherever you want to go to an outdoor space subject to the same rules, laws and guidance as delegated administrations,” said the prime minister.

‘I regret to say that we will continue to ask people who are clinically vulnerable, including pregnant women and people over the age of 70, or those with pre-existing chronic conditions, to take special care to minimize contact with people outside their homes, and we must continue to protect people who are extremely vulnerable: they must remain at home and avoid any direct contact with others. ‘

Trying to give an idea of ​​hope for divided families, Johnson said he had instructed the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) to investigate when people from two different households could be reunited safely.

Johnson told MPs: “Nothing can substitute for human contact, and therefore the Government has asked Sage when and how we can safely allow people to expand their group of households to include another household on a strictly reciprocal basis.” .

The roadmap insists that all steps are ‘conditional’ for the fight against the virus to go well, but says that starting next month, elementary schools could start operating again for reception, year 1 and year 6 .

However, classes will be kept small and most middle schools will remain closed until September.

“The government’s ambition is for all elementary children to return to school before summer for a month if possible,” the plan said.

Parents will not face fines for refusing to send their children.

At this point, the government will also consider “allowing cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.”

More nonessential stores will also open, though hairdressers and beauty salons are unlikely to return until July at the earliest.

The document also sets out how families and friends could mingle starting next month, if the virus remains under control.

‘As the restrictions continue, the Government is considering a range of options to reduce the most damaging social effects to make the measures more sustainable.

For example, the Government has asked SAGE to examine whether, when and how it can safely change regulations to allow people to expand their family group to include another household in the same exclusive group.

‘The intention of this change would be to allow those who are isolated a little more social contact and reduce the more damaging effects of current social restrictions, while continuing to limit the risk of transmission chains. It would also help some families return to work, for example, by allowing two households to share childcare.

‘This could be based on the New Zealand model of domestic’ bubbles’ where a single ‘bubble’ is the people you live with.

“As in New Zealand, the rationale for keeping small groups of households is to limit the number of social contacts people have, and in particular to limit the risk of transmission between households.”

The road map said that the government is also examining how to celebrate “small weddings”. However, there is no reference in the material to overseas vacations, suggesting that they are off the agenda for a long time.

Speaking to parliamentarians this afternoon, Johnson said: ‘Our challenge now is to find a way forward that preserves our hard-earned gains while relieving itself of the burden of the blockade. And I’ll be honest with the House, this is an extremely difficult balance to strike.

“There could be no greater mistake than jeopardizing everything we have strived to achieve by going too far and too fast.”

“We will not be driven by hope or economic revival as an end in itself, but by data, science and public health.”

Sir Patrick Vallance, England’s chief scientific adviser, said that experts were confident that the measures announced by the UK Government would not increase the rate of transmission of the coronavirus.

“From a scientific point of view, the review was pleased that the first wave of proposals did not push R above one,” he told reporters during a briefing.

“And then it must be monitored very carefully thereafter.”

Addressing the new advice allowing for more outdoor contact, Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, said: “There is a bit of leeway, the numbers are going down.”

“ We are sure that the R is already below one, that is the first background of this.

Secondly, we are sure that the risk of being outdoors, in terms of meeting people, as long as it is with social distancing, is significantly less than that of being indoors.

“We are confident that these fairly small changes will not have a material effect on their own, as long as people adhere to the social distancing and rules that are there, by increasing the R beyond where we are right now.”

Professor Chris Whitty said that the changes in the Government’s guidelines for England had to do with making ‘sustainable’ modifications in the long term.

“There are clear benefits to making this sustainable,” he told reporters.

‘We have to do this in the long term, it is really important to understand that.

‘Taking a very small risk for something that makes it more sustainable for people has some clear benefits.

“We are not claiming that there are no risks in this, but what we believe is that they are very small and proportional to the overall wellness benefit, exercise that leads to good health and sustainability.”

In a grim foreword to the plan, the prime minister said “we must recognize that life will be different, at least for the foreseeable future.” Johnson cautioned that a vaccine was the main long-term way out of the crisis, but the plan warned that “a safe and effective vaccine may not be developed for a long time (or even ever).”

Previously, the government’s stance was confused when Dominic Raab was forced to clarify Johnson’s call in a speech last night for millions of workers to return to duty immediately.

The Foreign Secretary insisted that the government is not urging workers to return until Wednesday, despite the official press release for No10 in the prime minister’s television speech saying they should return today.

The comment, when many will have already traveled by road or public transport, emerged when it became known that the health and safety guide for companies will not be issued until tomorrow, 24 hours before the edict of return to work takes effect.

Raab spread further confusion by suggesting that people can meet two family members, like parents in the parks, while maintaining social distance, sending Downing Street to say that this is not the case.

He also got into trouble and suggested that the pubs could open as early as June, when the prime minister said it wouldn’t be before July.

Union leader Sir Keir Starmer said the government’s strategy to ease the blockade was already “ crumbling ” within hours of its announcement, while union baron Unite Len McCluskey fueled the war rhetoric of classes by saying that ministers said “recklessly” that manual workers risk their own work. security while the rich stay at home.

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon demanded that Johnson stop telling the Scots what to do, saying he would ban the new ‘stay alert’ public information campaign from airing north of the border because the words ‘vague’ could put lives at risk.

This is how the government’s three-step plan to ease the blockade is outlined:

STEP ONE

Job

Starting Wednesday, a series of adjustments will be implemented in England, although the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will not necessarily be the same.

The document said that people should work from home “whenever possible” in the “foreseeable future”, to “minimize the number of social contacts across the country.”

In an attempt to remove any stigma for those who continue to do their jobs, the plan said: ‘All those who work are contributing taxes that help pay for the UK-based healthcare provision.

“People who can work at home make it possible for people who have to attend workplaces in person to do so while minimizing the risk of overcrowding in transportation and public places.”

But even if they cannot work from home, most people are being ‘actively encouraged’ to return.

“The only exceptions to this are those workplaces, such as hospitality and nonessential retail, which during this first step require the government to remain closed,” the plan said.

The plan said the ‘COVID-19 Secure’ guidelines will be produced this week, but simply stated that companies should follow them ‘as soon as possible’, leaving a considerable degree of uncertainty about how and when workers can be sure of the security.

Anyone showing symptoms should isolate as previously advised.

Schools

The document admits that the “infection rate is still too high” to allow schools to reopen “for all students.”

But he insisted that there is a “great social benefit” for vulnerable children and the offspring of key workers who attend school. “Local authorities and schools should therefore urge more children who would benefit from attending in person to do so,” he added.

The government is also modifying its guidance to allow babysitters and childcare providers, saying it “will allow more working parents to return.”

Travel

The plan emphasized that “most trips to work involve people traveling by bicycle, car, or on foot.”

But he admitted that public transportation is critical, “particularly in urban centers and at rush hours.”

The plan said that “everyone (including critical workers) should continue to avoid public transportation whenever possible,” rather than riding a bike, walking, or driving.

Movements are being made to widen pavements, create pop-up bicycle lanes, and close some city roads to traffic to allow for other friendly, socially distancing methods of transportation.

Facial coatings

The document says that at this stage facial coatings will help people avoid passing the disease on to others if they have it without any symptoms.

He added that homemade fabric liners can help reduce risk, but surgical masks or respirators should remain reserved for healthcare workers.

The ministers added that children under the age of two or those with respiratory conditions should not wear face covers.

People who may have difficulty handling masks correctly, such as unaided primary school children, are also advised not to wear them.

Authorities said the new guidance was issued in response to there being “more movement outside of people’s immediate homes” as people begin to return to work.

Public spaces

In a relaxation that will be a great relief in England, the exercise restriction is being lifted once a day.

You can spend time outdoors with another person outside your home, as long as you are two meters away. This means that you are now allowed to play tennis or golf with someone else.

However, team sports are still off limits, as are playgrounds and outdoor gyms.

People can travel as far as they like to reach outdoor spaces, and are allowed to stop and soak up the sun as long as they are within two meters of someone who is not in their own home.

That means, for example, that people can drive to the beach and the park, before sunbathing.

In recognition of the expansion of divisions across the UK, the document noted that “it is important that people abide by the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and not travel to different parts of the UK where it would be inconsistent with the guidelines or regulations. ” .

The plan noted: ‘These measures may have some risk; It is important that everyone continue to act responsibly, as the vast majority have done to date. The infection rate will increase if people start to break these rules and, for example, mix in groups in the parks, which will cause the need for more restrictions. ”

Tougher fines, up to £ 3,200, are being introduced to help enforce increasingly complex rules.

Travel

As the outbreak declines in the UK, steps will be taken to prevent ‘leakage’ from abroad.

All international arrivals must provide contact and accommodation information. “They will also be encouraged to download and use the NHS contact tracking application,” the document says.

“Secondly, the Government will require that all international arrivals that are not on a short exemption list self-isolate at their accommodation for fourteen days upon arrival in the UK.”

However, there is no deadline for introducing these measures, as the plan simply says “ASAP”.

SECOND STEP

Schools and shops reopened and ‘family bubbles’ allowed

El Paso Dos no se implementará hasta el 1 de junio como mínimo y el Gobierno notificará con al menos 48 horas de anticipación que se realizarán cambios.

La medida más importante para las familias en Gran Bretaña es el posible regreso a la escuela y la guardería de miles de niños.

Se les ha dicho a los maestros que se preparen para reabrir sus puertas el 1 de junio, con la recepción, los alumnos de primer y sexto año, los primeros en regresar, en clases más pequeñas.

La estrategia decía que la ambición es que todos los niños de primaria regresen a la escuela antes de las vacaciones de verano durante un mes ‘si es posible’, pero esto se mantendrá bajo revisión.

Las escuelas secundarias y las universidades de educación superior deben prepararse para comenzar un “contacto cara a cara” con los alumnos de Year 10 y 12 que se sometan a exámenes clave el próximo año.

Sin embargo, los ministros enfrentan un problema potencial en forma de maestros y padres reticentes. Más de 380,000 personas han firmado una petición instando al Gobierno a dar a los padres la opción de enviar a sus hijos de regreso a la escuela si vuelven a abrir el próximo mes.

Y Mary Bousted, secretaria general conjunta de la Unión Nacional de Educación (NEU, por sus siglas en inglés), dijo: “ Los padres están muy preocupados por los riesgos para sus hijos, no solo en la escuela sino en sus viajes diarios hacia y desde la escuela.

‘Esto a su vez amenaza la seguridad de los adultos en la comunidad escolar: padres, familias, maestros, directores y personal de apoyo.

“El distanciamiento social para los niños más pequeños será difícil de lograr y para otros habrá problemas de pasillos estrechos y aulas que simplemente no son lo suficientemente grandes como para permitir el distanciamiento social”.

En respuesta a los padres, el Gobierno anunció que las multas usualmente fijadas por absentismo escolar no se aplicarían si los padres no enviaran a sus hijos a la escuela.

El segundo paso también permitiría la creación de ‘burbujas familiares’. La idea es que a dos ramas de una familia se les permita socializar juntas, permitiendo que cosas como los abuelos tengan acceso a ver a sus nietos y viceversa.

Se le ha pedido a Sage que busque formas de hacer esto posible, con más información más cercana al tiempo, con la guía que dice: ‘La intención de este cambio sería permitir a aquellos que están aislados un poco más de contacto social y reducir los más dañinos efectos de las restricciones sociales actuales, sin dejar de limitar el riesgo de cadenas de transmisión.

“También ayudaría a algunas familias a regresar al trabajo, por ejemplo, permitiendo que dos hogares compartan el cuidado de los niños”.

Se están estudiando nuevas propuestas para que grupos más grandes se reúnan para permitir que las bodas continúen con pequeñas congregaciones.

La segunda etapa también permitiría el regreso de eventos deportivos y culturales, aunque a puerta cerrada.

Una gran cantidad de eventos como Glastonbury, Wimbledon y el Gran Premio de Gran Bretaña ya han sido cancelados y es poco probable que resuciten este año.

Pero los planes para permitir que ‘los eventos culturales y deportivos se realicen a puertas cerradas para la transmisión, evitando el riesgo de contacto social a gran escala’, permitirían que los deportes profesionales como el fútbol, ​​el rugby y el cricket se reanuden a principios del verano.

Esto también coincidiría con la reapertura de la calle principal del Reino Unido. Se espera que los minoristas no esenciales, que han estado cerrados desde marzo a un costo enorme para el contribuyente, abran por fases desde el 1 de junio.

En lugar de abrir una puerta, el Gobierno advirtió que se hará por fases y que los bares, pubs y restaurantes, y el “cuidado personal” como peluquerías y salones de belleza, permanecerán cerrados debido al mayor riesgo de infección.

Debido al aumento esperado en el movimiento durante esta fase, también verá un mayor retorno del transporte público.

Los autobuses y trenes han estado operando un servicio limitado desde marzo porque la demanda cayó por un precipicio.

Step three

Algo que se acerca a lo normal, pero algunas empresas aún podrían estar atrapadas en el limbo

No se espera que la etapa tres entre en vigencia hasta el 4 de julio, Día de la Independencia de los Estados Unidos, como muy pronto.

Los planes incluirían la reapertura de negocios que aún estaban cerrados: pubs, restaurantes y hoteles, peluquerías y salones de belleza, iglesias e instalaciones de ocio como cines.

Pero todavía hay una advertencia en esta etapa que algunos lugares no podrán abrir.

‘Some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to re-open safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part,’ it warns,

‘Nevertheless the Government will wish to open as many businesses and public places as the data and information at the time allows.’

It adds that it will watch places around the world that are already emerging from their lockdown and use them as guide as to how premises could open safely.

But it does raise the possibility that some  businesses will potentially still have their doors closed heading in to the autumn, raising the spectre of job losses over the summer.