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Seven weeks after the UK entered the shutdown, Boris Johnson has announced the first relaxation of the rules.
Starting Wednesday, the public will be able to exercise unlimited daily, lead country walks, sunbathe and play sports with members of their own home.
Johnson’s changes, which only apply to England, leave the United Kingdom divided on its blocking strategy.
And his decision to downgrade the government slogan of “stay home, save lives,” calling on the public in England to “stay vigilant” and begin returning to work if safe, has been condemned.
It has been called confusing and potentially “catastrophic”.
(Image: PA)
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“The prime minister appears to be effectively telling millions of people to return to work without a clear safety plan or guidance on how to get there without using public transportation.”
“What the country wanted tonight was clarity and consensus, but we didn’t get any of those.”
The announcement came when the official number of deaths in the UK increased from 269 to 31,855.
The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland rejected the new advice to “stay alert”, saying they were not consulted and would only make minor adjustments.
(Image: PA)
After a COBRA meeting with the Prime Minister, Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that the “vague and imprecise” slogan could have “catastrophic” consequences.
Behavioral expert Professor Susan Michie of the SAGE group of scientists said the new catchphrase was “very far from” being clear and consistent.
She added: “[It] many can take it as a green light so they don’t stay home and start socializing with friends and other activities that increase the risk of transmission. “
In his televised speech last night, Johnson announced a “change in emphasis,” rather than a strict change in the rules, for who should and who should not be at work.
He said: “Anyone who cannot work from home, for example, those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.
(Image: PA)
“Work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.”
He said the government is establishing a guide for companies to make workplaces safe. But he did not say when it would be published.
There were obvious omissions in the prime minister’s statement, including details on when the public could see family and friends again.
There was also no updated specific advice for those over 70 or shielding 1.5 million people because they have underlying health conditions.
Many of them fear that the government is considering “hiding” them for months while the rest of the country returns to normal.
(Image: Getty)
In his prerecorded speech, Johnson described his “road map” to a new normal, with a five-stage warning system to track the outbreak.
The Prime Minister said that the social distancing rules of staying two meters away remain in place and that if people do not obey them they face fines of up to £ 3,200.
The government will publish a 50-page document today that describes the full details of the plan to restart the economy.
The next step, as reported by the Mirror last week, will be for students to return to elementary school after half a semester as soon as possible, beginning with the reception, Year 1 and Year 6. Daycare may also return. Then there may be a gradual reopening of nonessential stores.
After that, ministers hope that students who sit at GCSE and A levels can also return to school before the summer break.
(Image: PA)
Cafes in parks and restaurants with outdoor space, but not pubs, could reopen from July at the earliest.
Houses of worship, movie theaters, and other public places may also reopen. Johnson said: “If there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to stop.
“We have passed through the initial peak. But it is going down the mountain which is often more dangerous.
“If we can’t do it on those dates, and if the alert level doesn’t allow it, we will wait and continue until we do it right.”
It gave the impression last week that the blockade would begin to lift from today.
Then he was pressured to keep it until June, at least after being warned that outbreaks in residences and hospitals made the significant reduction too dangerous.
Amid confusion over the lifting of the measures, the public visited parks and beaches over bank holiday weekend, in addition to holding street parties to celebrate VE Day on Friday.
Government scientific advisers warned that the UK could suffer more than 100,000 deaths by the end of the year if the measures are hastily relaxed.
An unidentified government adviser said: “The room for maneuver is very limited.”
The figures suggest that the death toll in the UK may be 36,800, around 5,000 more than the official number.
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