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Boris Johnson urged the country to take its first tentative steps out of the confinement this week in a speech to the nation that was immediately condemned for being divisive, confusing and vague.
In a Downing Street speech, Johnson said that if the circumstances were right, schools in England and some stores could open next month, and the government was “actively encouraging” people to return to work if they cannot do so from their homes.
But he stressed that this was not “the time simply to end the blockade” and that he intended to take a cautious, science-driven approach, otherwise a second deadly wave of the “devilish” virus would ensue.
But his comments drew criticism and concern from across the political spectrum, and his decision to drop the “stay home” message in favor of “stay alert” advice met with a chorus of disapproval from the leaders of Scotland, Ireland. North and Wales.
Although he did not elaborate, Johnson explained that his plan for a gradual reduction in the enclosure of the coronavirus in England could see the partial reopening of primary schools, shops and kindergartens from June 1, while some cafes or restaurants with outdoor space. , more places or places of worship and socially distanced cinemas, could return to business from July.
He also said that more outdoor activity will be allowed in England starting this Wednesday, including unlimited exercise, trips to beauty spots like beaches and national parks, and sports like sport fishing, golf and tennis, as long as they’re kept in groups. domestic.
People will also be able to meet with another member of another household at the same time outdoors, either while exercising or sitting down, according to government sources.
Johnson said he would only begin to reopen the economy if the pandemic is clearly under control, but his call for people to return to their workplaces led to immediate condemnation of unions concerned about their job security.
Keir Starmer said the prime minister “appears to be effectively telling millions of people to go back to work tomorrow” without the necessary guidance.
“But we don’t have the guidelines, and we don’t know how it will work with public transportation, so a lot of questions arise,” added the Labor leader.
Workers were urged not to use public transport whenever possible, but rather cars, walking or bicycles, on advice that will be impossible for many to follow.
The Prime Minister’s decision to loosen the blockade also led to a collapse in the UK’s “four nations” approach to dealing with the coronavirus, with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland refusing to replace the “stay home” message. “With the new” Johnson “stay alert” motto.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s prime minister, said dropping the “stay home” message could have “catastrophic” consequences north of the border and ordered the Scots to follow different advice on exercising outdoors.
This will be unlimited, but there must be “no sunbathing, picnics or barbecues,” he said, in contrast to Johnson’s new advice. She said the new “stay alert” message was too “vague and imprecise” to be used.
Sturgeon told the BBC Scotland Johnson that it should be much clearer that his proposal to relax the blockade was only related to England.
Mark Drakeford, Prime Minister of Wales, stressed that the country’s “stay home” advice “has not changed.” He announced Friday that Wales will allow more frequent exercise and the opening of garden centers, but said that schools will not reopen from June 1.
Johnson will expose further details of his approach to parliament on Monday, releasing a document that will establish a road map to reopen the economy. This is likely to include ambitions to:
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Stores and elementary schools will return beginning June 1, beginning with the reception, year one and year six. It is understood that you would also want daycare and other early childhood providers to return as soon as possible.
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Middle school students will sit for exams next year for a chance to see their teachers before the end of the trimester, but there are no plans for other high school students to return to school before the next school year.
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Some from the hotel industry and other public places to reopen “as long as they are safe and enforce social distancing.” He wasn’t specific about which hospitality venues they might reopen, but it’s understood to mean a return to cafes and restaurants with outdoor space that can force social estrangement, rather than pubs, even those with beer gardens.
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People in England will be allowed to sit in parks within their family groups, drive to beauty spots to walk, and do unlimited amounts of exercise outdoors. People can meet and sit with only one person outdoors as long as they are two meters away. Angling, swimming in lakes or rivers, tennis and golf will be allowed if people join their family groups.
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The speech omitted guidance on the use of face masks, but this is likely to be included in Monday’s document, advising non-medical masks in closed public places such as public transportation.
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It also had no details on when people would be able to reunite with friends and family again.
Emphasizing that the UK would take a careful approach, she said these were the first of “slow and gradual changes”, but that people would face higher fines for breaking the rules and that the government could re-impose stricter rules if the virus begins to spread uncontrollably again. Fines can start at £ 100 and double for other offenses, up to a maximum of £ 3,200.
“If there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to stop,” he said.
Another tightening of the rules will involve quarantining people who come to the UK from abroad for 14 days, although this could only apply to air travel.
“To prevent reinfection from abroad, I am notifying that the time will soon be, with significantly less transmission, to quarantine people entering this country by air,” Johnson said.
Number 10 also suggested that there might be no quarantine for people traveling from France after a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. “Quarantine measures will not be applied to travelers coming from France at this stage; any action on both sides would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner, “said a spokesman.
Johnson’s move toward the “stay alert” message indicates the government’s intention to try to get people back to work, rather than staying home in all circumstances.
But unions have not agreed to a new orientation in the workplace and Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Returning to work must be safe. There should be no shortcuts, not playing fast and loose with the safety of employees. The economy is important, but lives are also important ”.
Len McCluskey, Unite’s general secretary, also expressed concern about people returning to work before mandatory safety standards are agreed. “This has not been well thought out and failure to do so puts people who work at risk.”
Johnson explained that the government would adopt a new “five-tier” threat system to describe the UK’s risk from coronavirus, saying the UK was still at the second-most serious of four. The “Covid Alert System” would be administered by a new Joint Biosecurity Center, Johnson added.
He added: “We have a route, and we have a plan, and everyone in government has the pressure and the all-consuming challenge to save lives, restore livelihoods, and gradually restore the freedoms we need.”
