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Boris Johnson has said he is “optimistic” ahead of the launch of his “roadmap” to ease England’s blockade, and has hinted which industries will reopen first.
The prime minister said his plan, which will be released on February 22, will prioritize reopening schools from March 8.
Nonessential retail will follow, then hospitality venues.
“Educating our children is our number one priority, but then moving forward, getting the non-essential retail stores open as well, and then in due course when we can prudently, cautiously, of course we want to open the hostelry”. he said.
“I will try to establish everything I can in as much detail as possible, always understanding that we have to be wary of the disease pattern. We don’t want to be forced into any kind of withdrawal or reverse ferret.”
Speaking at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies plant in Billingham, Teesside, where the new Novavax vaccine will be manufactured, he added: “I am optimistic, I will not hide it from you. I am optimistic, but we have to be cautious.”
Follow a warning from a high-ranking Conservative MP that the government should not “back off” on reopening all schools in England on 8 March.
Robert Halfon, chairman of the House of Commons education committee, expressed concern about an “epidemic of educational poverty” and said ministers should consider extending the length of terms or school hours to help students catch up. up to date with learning.
Johnson previously said March 8 is the “earliest” date when the government could allow all children to return to classrooms in England.
A key scientist advising the government has said the prime minister “will have some bandwidth” to start reopening schools in March.
Professor Neil Ferguson, who is part of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, told Politico’s Westminster Insider podcast: “The lockdown has really reduced cases quite quickly.
“They’re basically halving every 17 days right now, and that means in a month, the prime minister has talked about the possible reopening of schools, we could have some bandwidth to do that, at least schools primary “.
the coronavirus infection rates for fell in the four nations of the United Kingdom In the week ending February 6, the numbers were released on Friday.
About one in 80 people in private households in England COVID-19 between January 31 and February 6, according to estimates by the National Statistics Office (ONS), the equivalent of 695,400 people.
This is less than about one in 65 people during the January 24-30 period.
Infections also fell in Wales, where around 1 in 85 people (35,300) had the virus, and Scotland too, with 1 in 150 testing positive during the same period, the equivalent of 35,400 people.
The percentage of people who tested positive for COVID also decreased in Northern Ireland, where around 1 in 75 had the virus, which is equivalent to 24,400 people.
London continues to have the highest proportion of people testing positive for coronavirus in England, with around one in 60 estimated to have had the virus. Although this is down from one in 45, previously.
