Boris Johnson’s new plans for a gradual easing of the lockdown could see local shops and primary schools partially reopening from June, some cafes and restaurants re-opening from July, along with more outdoor activity allowed from this Wednesday.
In an address to the nation on Sunday, the Prime Minister said there was “no immediate end to the lockdown” as people will still be required to stay at home most of the time and to keep within their own household groups.
But from this Wednesday, people will be allowed to sit in parks within their household groups, to drive to beauty spots such as local beaches for walks, and to take “unlimited amounts” of outdoor exercise. There is concern locally that this could mean Burnham sees a large influx of visitors from out of the area.
Boris Johnson, however, stressed that he would be taking a “cautious” approach to gradually relaxing the lockdown, guided by the science. He said his ambition is to get shops and primary schools back from 1st June, starting with reception, year 1 and year 6.
Secondary school pupils sitting exams next year will be given an opportunity to see their teachers before the end of term but there are currently no immediate plans for other secondary pupils to return to school before the next school year.
The next step after that, at the earliest by July, would be an aim to “reopen at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing”.
The PM was not specific about which hospitality venues could reopen, but this could mean a return for cafes and restaurants with outdoor space that can enforce social distancing.
In his address to the nation, the PM said people who could not work from home should return to the workplace, but avoid public transport.
He said a new Covid Alert System with five levels would govern how quickly lockdown restrictions could be eased.
He hoped the next step “at the earliest by 1st June” would be for some primary pupils to return to school.
Mr Johnson said this stage would also involve reopening shops – but he cautioned this would only happen if the science supported it.
The next step could see some hospitality businesses and other public places reopen – “if the numbers support it” – but not earlier than 1st July.
He said these steps formed part of a “first sketch of a roadmap for reopening society”.
The PM added: “This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week. Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.”
Clarifying the conditions in which schools and shops would reopen, Mr Johnson said: “Throughout this period of the next two months we will be driven not by mere hope or economic necessity.
“We are going to be driven by the science, the data and public health. And I must stress again all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big ifs.”
Boris Johnson explained how the “R” number – the reproduction rate of the virus – would be crucial in deciding whether lockdown could be eased further.
Experts have said that keeping R below 1 – meaning one person with the virus passes it on to one other person – is the priority.
“It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to keep that R down,” he said.
He said those who could not work from home would now be encouraged to return to work – but they should avoid using public transport to get there if possible.
Mr Johnson mentioned construction and manufacturing as examples of the sorts of industries where restarting would now be explicitly encouraged.
Workplaces would receive guidance on how to become “Covid secure”, Mr Johnson added.
The PM also said he was “serving notice” that it would soon be the time to impose a quarantine on people coming into the country by air.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Johnson’s speech lacked “clarity and consensus” and raised “as many questions as it answers”.
