Boris Johnson's lockdown release condemned as
divisive, confusing and vague
Coronavirus lockdown stays in place but more outdoor
activity will be allowed in England
Work, public transport, schools and shops: what
are the new rules?
Rowena
Mason Deputy political editor
Sun 10 May
2020 21.24 BSTFirst published on Sun 10 May 2020 19.13 BST
Boris
Johnson urged the country to take its first tentative steps out of lockdown
this week in an address to the nation that was immediately condemned as being
divisive, confusing and vague.
In a speech
from Downing Street, Johnson said if the circumstances were right, schools in
England and some shops might be able to open next month, and the government was
“actively encouraging” people to return to work if they cannot do so from home.
But he
stressed that this was “not the time simply to end the lockdown” and that he
intended to take a cautious approach guided by the science, otherwise a second
deadly wave of the “devilish” virus would take hold.
But his
remarks drew criticism and concern from across the political spectrum – and his
decision to drop the “stay at home” message in favour of advice to “stay alert”
was met with a chorus of disapproval from the leaders of Scotland, Northern
Ireland and Wales.
Though he
gave no details, Johnson explained his blueprint for a gradual easing of the
coronavirus lockdown in England could see primary schools, shops and nurseries
partially reopening from 1 June, while some cafes or restaurants with outdoor
space, plus places or worship and socially distanced cinemas, could return to
business from July.
He also
said more outdoor activity will be allowed in England from this Wednesday,
including unlimited exercise, trips to beauty spots such as beaches and
national parks, and sport such as angling, golf and tennis, as long as they are
kept to household groups.
People will
also be allowed to meet one other member of another household at a time
outdoors, either while exercising or sitting down, according to government
sources.
Johnson
said he would only start reopening the economy if the pandemic is clearly under
control, but his call for people to get back to their workplaces led to
immediate condemnation from trade unions worried about the safety of their work.
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
haven’t got the guidelines, and we don’t know how it’s going to work with
public transport so there’s a huge number of questions arising out of this,”
the Labour leader added.
Workers
were urged not to use public transport where possible, but cars, walking or
bikes instead – in advice that will be impossible to follow for many.
The prime minister’s
decision to loosen the lockdown also led to a breakdown in the UK’s “four
nation” approach to dealing with coronavirus, with the leaders of Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland refusing to replace the “stay home” messaging” with
Johnson’s new “stay alert” slogan.
Nicola
Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, said dropping the “stay home” message
could have “catastrophic” consequences north of the border and ordered Scots to
follow different advice on outdoors exercise.
This will
be unlimited but there must be “no sunbathing, picnics or barbecues”, she 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 BBC Scotland Johnson needed to be much clearer that his proposed easing of
the lockdown only related to England.
Mark
Drakeford, first minister of Wales, emphasised that the country’s stay-at-home
advice “has not changed”. He announced on Friday that Wales will allow more
frequent exercise and the opening of garden centres, but said schools will not
reopen from 1 June.
Johnson
will set out further details of his approach to parliament on Monday,
publishing a document that will set out a roadmap for reopening the economy.
This is likely to include ambitions for:
Shops and
primary schools to return from 1 June, starting with reception, year one and
year six. It is understood he would also want nurseries and other early years
providers to return at the earliest opportunity.
Secondary
school pupils sitting exams next year to be given an opportunity to see their
teachers before the end of term but there are no plans for other secondary
pupils to return to school before the next school year.
Some of the
hospitality industry and other public places to reopen “provided they are safe
and enforce social distancing”. He was not specific about which hospitality
venues could reopen but it is understood that it means a return for cafes and
restaurants with outdoor space that can enforce social distancing, rather than
pubs, even ones with beer gardens.
People in
England to be allowed to sit in parks within their household groups, to drive
to beauty spots for walks and take unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.
People will be able to meet and sit down with a single other person outdoors as
long as they stay two metres apart. Angling, swimming in lakes or rivers,
tennis and golf will all be allowed if people are sticking to their household
groups.
The speech
omitted guidance on the wearing of face masks but this is likely to be included
in Monday’s document, advising non-medical masks in enclosed public places such
as public transport.
It also had
no detail on when people may be able to meet with friends and family in groups
again.
Stressing
that the UK would take a careful approach, he said these were the first of
“slow and gradual changes” but people would face higher fines for breaking the
rules and the government could reimpose stricter rules if the virus starts to
spread uncontrollably again. Fines could start at £100 and double for further
offences, up to a maximum of £3,200.
“If there
are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the
brakes,” he said.
Another
tightening of the rules will involve quarantining people coming to the UK from
abroad for 14 days, although this might only apply to travel by plane.
“To prevent
reinfection from abroad, I am serving notice that it will soon be the time –
with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming
into this country by air,” Johnson said.
No 10 also
suggested there may be no quarantine for people travelling from France after a
phone call with French president Emmanuel Macron. “No quarantine measures would
apply to travellers coming from France at this stage; any measures on either
side would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner,” a spokesman said.
Johnson’s
move towards the “stay alert” message signals the government’s intention to try
to get people back to work, rather than staying at home in all circumstances.
But trade
unions have not agreed new workplace guidance and Unison general secretary Dave
Prentis said: “The return to work must be safe. There must be no cutting
corners, no playing fast and loose with employees’ safety. The economy is
important, but lives are too.”
Len
McCluskey, the general secretary of Unite, also raised concerns about people
heading back to work before mandatory safety rules are agreed. “This has not
been thought through and the failure to do so places working people in danger.”
Johnson
explained the government would adopt a new “five-level” threat system to
describe the risk the UK faces from coronavirus, saying the UK was currently
still at the second most serious level of four. The “Covid Alert System” would
be run by a new Joint Biosecurity Centre, Johnson added.
He added:
“We have a route, and we have a plan, and everyone in government has the
all-consuming pressure and challenge to save lives, restore livelihoods and
gradually restore the freedoms that we need.”
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