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PEOPLE IN ENGLAND will be able to hug loved ones, dine in restaurants and go on holiday abroad from next week, Boris Johnson has confirmed.
The move to the next stage of the road map out of lockdown on May 17 came as the Covid-19 alert level in the UK was downgraded after a “consistent” fall in cases, hospital admissions and deaths.
The four chief medical officers of the UK have said the threat level should be reduced thanks to the success of the vaccination programme and social distancing restrictions.
Confirmation that England would move to step three on the road map came from Johnson at a Downing Street press conference after a Cabinet meeting to sign off the change.
The biggest easing of lockdown measures so far is designed to encourage people to take more personal responsibility for managing the risks posed by the virus.
The Prime Minister said: “This unlocking amounts to a very considerable step on the road map to normality and I am confident that we will be able to go further.”
The road map remained on track for the next stage on June 21 and Johnson promised that later this month the British government would set out “what role there could be – if any – for certification and social distancing”.
The British government has been reviewing whether Covid status certification, recording whether people have had a vaccine or negative test result, could be used to help open up businesses.
People will be given the choice on whether to remain two metres from family or friends, meaning they can once again hug and shake hands.
But officials suggested people should consider getting tested for coronavirus before hugging and wear face masks or ensure a room is well ventilated before ditching social distancing measures.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “What the public need to understand is that we are moving away from delivering a specific instruction on this point to advising the public that, because of the success of the vaccine rollout and the public abiding by the rules, we are at the point where everyone can use their own personal judgment.”
Johnson underlined that message at the press conference, saying: “Today we are taking a step towards that moment when we learn to live responsibly with Covid, when we cease eventually to rely on detailed Government edicts and make our own decisions.”
From May 17:
– People will be able to meet outdoors in groups of up to 30.
– People will be able to meet indoors in groups of six, or two households.
– Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers indoors, although they will be limited to table service.
– Cinemas, museums, theatres and concert halls will be allowed to reopen although there will be capacity limits on large events.
– The “stay in the UK” restriction will lift and people will be able to travel to “green list” countries, such as Portugal although they are still being advised not to go to destinations on the amber list.
– Up to 30 people will be allowed at weddings, although dancing will still not be allowed, and the cap on the number of mourners attending funerals will be lifted, in line with the safe capacity of the venue.
– Secondary school pupils will no longer be told to wear face masks in class and communal areas.
The easing of restrictions came after the UK’s senior medics said the threat level should be lowered from “level 4” to “level 3”, means that the epidemic is in general circulation, but transmission of the virus is no longer deemed to be high or rising exponentially.
In a statement, the chief medical officers of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, said: “Following advice from the Joint Biosecurity Centre and in the light of the most recent data, the UK chief medical officers and NHS England national medical director agree that the UK alert level should move from level 4 to level 3.
“Thanks to the efforts of the UK public in social distancing and the impact we are starting to see from the vaccination programme, case numbers, deaths and Covid hospital pressures have fallen consistently.
“However, Covid is still circulating with people catching and spreading the virus every day so we all need to continue to be vigilant.
“This remains a major pandemic globally.
“It is very important that we all continue to follow the guidance closely and everyone gets both doses of the vaccine when they are offered it.”
The UK Covid-19 threat level has not been below level 3 since the start of the pandemic and the last time it was at this level was mid September 2020.
The threat level was raised to its highest level, level 5, on January 4 when officials raised concerns the NHS was at risk of being “overwhelmed”.
It was downgraded to level 4 in February.
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When Belfast follows suit with International travel the M1 will rightly be full of cars bringing families to both Belfast airports to go on a their holidays.
Meanwhile back here in Merrion square the Government are still asleep at the wheel.
@a: asleep at the wheel keeping people alive and out of hospitals.
Check.
The vast majority of us had the dignity to do the right thing for the benefit of us all.
Was and is tough and will thankfully pass very soon.
The govt didn’t do this. We all did with our behaviour.
@Fozz: Half the country has been working for months either at home or cos their rich and well connected employers got them classed as essential to open. Believe me this lockdown wouldn’t have lasted as long if we had a proper all in this together bar shops, pharmacy and maybe takeaways open style lockdown like last April. I wonder will all these people who are happy for lengthy restrictions be so generous and appreciative next October when the savage budget hits and things like a large welfare bill needs paying for along with the billions in debt we will owe for the next few generations. As someone who saw first hand what so many were like to anyone who lost a job after the crash, I pity anyone who’s jobs don’t come back after this mess
Can we have an update from all the Journal commentators saying the UK would be going back into a lockdown while we slowly and steadily pass them out ?! LOL
@Ríain HenC: we’ve exactly half their death rate per million of population. I think we can let them grasp at whatever little plus points they can find. They’ve literally done the spadework.
@Alan McArdle: I was only referencing the exit strategy though ? Which was ridiculed ! Their handling of the spread was awful but while they dine indoors, plan to fully let the concerns of Covid down to their individual citizens and enjoy the summer we can’t stand on the side of a pitch in the open air to support our local team!
@Ríain HenC: not much good that does the folks there who died needlessly.
How you can even try spin them exiting Covid faster but with more deaths as anything but negative shows your own lack of empathy.
@Ríain HenC: the exit is so Boris can point to such superficials. Same with Brexit. It’s done in name but is a mess in practicality. Achieve the goal, just don’t look at the method or consequences……that’s Boris.
@Alan McArdle: regardless of population you cannot compare the two countries
Booking a flight now from Belfast to London and anywhere from there yippee. Prices will go through the roof now as ireland will go abroad through belfast this summer
@finbarr walsh: But you’re not really!
Great stuff!! Delighted for them.
Their green list is hilarious and they’re not welcome in Spain or Portugal yet either. Spain said June for UK tourists, Portugal said by the end of May as long as the virus transmission situation stays stable and/or continues to fall.
If it wasn’t for the fixed-term parliament act (agreed with the LibDems in 2010), Johnson would’ve called an election now and there’d be a whopping Tory majority of at least 100 seats in Westminster.
But Labour’s dismal performance in Thursday probably means Johnson won’t get his election. Although he might try anyway and call Starmer a coward for not giving in.
have your say