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Boris Johnson has hailed the return of schools in England as a “big” and “emotional” day, but warned that it will have an impact on the spread of the coronavirus and there is no guarantee that the country will reopen on the set dates.
At a press conference in Downing Street, the prime minister said it is “more vital than ever to follow the rules” so that the roadmap to ease the lockdown can continue as planned.
The prime minister said the government would be “driven by data, not dates” in deciding whether it is appropriate to loosen restrictions further in the coming weeks, and that the next expected date for changes is March 29.
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He was asked if the encouraging data from the last few days: including daily deaths that fall below 100 – might tempt you to advance some of your goals, said: “We have to remain cautious – the goal of this roadmap is that it is intended to be cautious but irreversible.”
“And we think we can do it thanks to the launch of the vaccine.
“I think people would really prefer to change something of urgency and haste in favor of safety and certainty about those dates that we have set.”
The prime minister added that infection rates and the number of people hospitalized remain “very high by last year’s standards.”
He reminded people that other European countries are seeing an increase in cases and remember that every time we have seen that happen “it is not long after we see an increase in this country as well.”
Dr. Jenny Harries, deputy chief medical officer, said she expected cases to increase in the first two weeks, but then disappear.
Dr Jenny Harries, England’s deputy chief medical officer, added that they expect to see an increase in cases in the first two weeks that schools are open, but we can be “very optimistic in the future” due to the vaccination schedule and testing.
“The probability that a case will enter a school and a greater number of people will be self-isolating now is much lower,” he said.
“There may be a short period when more children go out [to self-isolate] but that will calm down.
“It’s really important to look beyond the first two weeks.”
Monday, March 29, is when more social rules are expected to be relaxed, including the resumption of outdoor sports and the removal of the government’s “Stay Home” message.
And as of that date, up to six people from different households or a larger group from two households are expected to be able to meet outdoors, including in private gardens.
All primary schools returned today, while secondary school students will have staggered returns this week as part of the first step to ease the lockdown imposed on England in early January.
High school children are urged to undergo two lateral flow tests a week, the first three at school and the rest at home, where their homes have also been asked to test twice per week. week.
Other measures have also softened slightly as of today, with one person allowed to meet another from a different home outside for recreation, such as a coffee or picnic, rather than just exercising.
Residents of nursing homes can also choose a visitor named today.
