England will lift most restrictions on July 4, paving the way for pubs and restaurants to open and the two-metre rule will be dropped.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that the rule will be relaxed to “one metre-plus” from July 4 in England.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Johnson encouraged people to “do their patriotic best for Britain” and head to the pubs when they reopen on July 4.
- Two metre rule scrapped
Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster tweeted: “Very significant announcement. I was speaking with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster @michaelgove in advance of this announcement.
“Important for NI Executive to consider the science of this decision. Glad HMG will share it. From 2-1m is transformational for many sectors.”
Health minister Robin Swann told a press conference today that the executive will meet on Thursday to look at any possible reduction in social distancing.
But he said the two-metre recommendation remains.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride added the "science is the science" and although the evidence around the two-metre rule is clear, other countries had made policy decisions to reduce social distancing.
The Prime Minister said that he will publish the Government’s decision-making on the social distancing changes.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “It is essential that the next steps are solely directed by the science rather than by political pressures.
“So can the Prime Minister confirm that he will publish not just the conclusions, but the full review on social distancing measures and the scientific advice given?”
Mr Johnson responded: “I will of course publish the measures on social distancing, how the decision was reached on social distancing.
“I’ve said we’ll place that in both libraries of the House.”
- Restaurants and pubs to reopen
Pubs and restaurants will be limited to table service and will be asked to collect customers’ details so they can be traced if there is a coronavirus outbreak.
Mr Johnson said: “I can tell the House that we will also reopen restaurants and pubs. All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service and our guidance will encourage minimal staff and customer contact.
“We will ask businesses to help NHS Test and Trace respond to any local outbreaks by collecting contact details from customers as happens in other countries and we will work with the sector to make this manageable.”
The domestic tourist industry will be boosted by the reopening of accommodation including hotels, B&Bs and campsites along with most leisure facilities and attractions such as theme parks.
Mr Johnson added: “From July 4, provided that no more than two households stay together, people will be free to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation including hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as camp sites, as long as shared facilities are kept clean.”
Tory Gareth Johnson (Dartford) said: “Going to the pub is a great British institution and vital if we want to get our economy back on track.
“Would the Prime Minister therefore join me in calling on people from July 4 to do their patriotic best for Britain and go to the pub?”
Mr Johnson replied: “Yes, I do encourage to take advantage of the freedoms that they are rightly reacquiring, but I must stress that people should act in a responsible way.
“And I know that that is where the public are. I know that is what people want to see.”
He added: “Yes I want to see people out in the shops – it is a fantastic thing to see; yes I want to see people taking advantage of hospitality again, a wonderful thing; yes I want to see people enjoying friends and family again but they’ve got to do it in a responsible way and observing social distancing.”
- Museums, galleries, cinemas and heritage venues can open
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden tweeted: “Museums, galleries and heritage venues can open from 4th July.
“We’re sharing guidance to help keep everyone safe.
“Will be great to see these wonderful venues and institutions reopened for everyone to enjoy.”
The UK Cinema Association welcomed news that cinemas can reopen from July 4.
Phil Clapp, UK Cinema Association’s chief executive, said: “We welcome in particular the acknowledgement implicit in today’s statement of the work the sector has undertaken in reassuring ministers that cinemas in England can reopen safely for audiences and staff members alike.
“While discussions with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continue, today is undoubtedly a significant step forward for the UK cinema sector”.
- Hairdressers to reopen
Hairdressers will be able to reopen with precautions including the use of visors on July 4.
Mr Johnson said: “Almost as eagerly awaited as a pint will be a haircut, particularly by me, and so we will reopen hairdressers with appropriate precautions, including the use of visors.
“We also intend to allow some other close contact services such as nail bars to reopen as soon as we can when we are confident that they can operate in a Covid-secure way.
- Indoor gyms, nightclubs, soft play and swimming pools will remain closed
Boris Johnson said indoor gyms will remain closed.
Mr Johnson added: “Most leisure facilities and tourist attractions will reopen if they can do so safely including outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, themes parks and arcades as well as libraries, social clubs and community centres.
“Close proximity venues such as nightclubs, soft play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas will, I’m afraid, need to remain closed for now, as will bowling alleys and water parks.
“But my right honourable friends the Business and Culture Secretaries will establish task forces with public health experts and the sectors to help them become Covid-secure and reopen as soon as possible.
“We will also work with the arts industry on specific guidance to enable choirs, orchestras and theatres to resume live performances as soon as possible.
“Recreation and sport will be allowed, but indoor facilities including changing rooms and courts will remain closed and people should only play close contact team sports with members of their household.”
Live performances at concert halls and theatres are also still banned, partly due to the risk posed by singing in spreading the virus.
Outdoor gyms and playgrounds will be returned to use?
- Places of worship open and small weddings allowed
Wedding services involving up to 30 people will be permitted as part of the further easing of lockdown rules revealed by the Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson said: “I know that many have mourned the closure of places of worship and this year Easter, Passover and Eid all occurred during the lockdown.
“So I am delighted that places of worship will be able to reopen for prayer and services, including weddings, with a maximum of 30 people, all subject to social distancing.”
- Social bubbles
Boris Johnson said that from July 4, two households of any size should be able to meet in any setting.
He said: “From now on, we will ask people to follow guidance on social contact instead of legislation.
“In that spirit, we advise that from July 4, two households of any size should be able to meet in any setting inside or out.
“That does not mean they must always be the same two households, it will be possible for instance to meet one set of grandparents one weekend, the others the following weekend.
“But we are not recommending meetings of multiple households indoors because of the risk of creating greater chains of transmission.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: “Our plan is working. Having protected the NHS & reduced the number of #coronavirus cases we can now carefully lift restrictions. We must continue to protect our NHS & stay vigilant & stay alert.”
- Shielding
Boris Johnson said those shielding from coronavirus have been “kept in close confinement for too long” and must be helped back into the community.
Labour’s Vicky Foxcroft (Lewisham, Deptford) said: “This morning I met with Disability Rights UK who are worried that support for shielded people is being removed too quickly. In their words, if Government can be sensitive to business until October, why can’t they be sensitive to personal needs?
“Now throughout this crisis communication with shielded and disabled people has been poor. Will he commit to working closely with these groups to ensure clearer, more regular communication as we move out of lockdown and towards planning for a second wave?”
Mr Johnson replied: “What we want to see is a situation in which the prevalence, the incidence, is so low that the shielding programme no longer needs to continue in its current way and I think that should be a shared ambition around the House and around the country.
“Too many elderly and vulnerable people have been kept in close confinement for too long and we must help them to a new way out.”
Boris Johnson said the country will see future outbreaks of coronavirus.
In the Commons, Ian Blackford said: “The virus has not gone away. The margins for ensuring the virus does not take off again remain tight.
“Keeping people safe remains the first priority. We cannot put a price on human life.”
Mr Johnson replied: “(Mr Blackford) is right to express the caution that he does, he’s right to anticipate the risk of second spikes.
“And that is, I’m afraid, that we will see future outbreaks and I must be absolutely clear with the House about that.
“We will see future outbreaks and we will be in a much better position now to control those outbreaks.”
- Childcare
Boris Johnson said “wraparound care” for school-age children and formal childcare will “restart over the summer”, adding in the Commons: “Primary and secondary education will recommence in September with full attendance and those children who can already go to school should do so because it is safe.
“We will publish Covid-secure guidelines for every sector that is reopening and slowly but surely these measures will restore a sense of normality.
“After the toughest restrictions in peacetime history, we’re now able to make life easier for people to see more of their friends and family and help businesses get back on their feet and get people back into work.”
Mr Johnson added the “virus has not gone away” and data will continue to be monitored, adding: “I must be clear to the House that, as we’ve seen in other countries, there will be flare ups for which local measures will be needed and we will not hesitate to apply the brakes and reintroduce restrictions, even at national level, if required.
“So I urge everyone to stay alert, control the virus and save lives.
“Let’s keep washing our hands, staying two metres apart wherever possible, mitigating the risks at one metre where not possible, avoiding public transport where possible, wearing a mask when you have to use public transport, getting tested immediately if you have symptoms, self-isolating if instructed to do so by NHS test and trace.”
- Guidance for business to be published ?
Mr Johnson said guidance for business will be published later on Tuesday.
He added: “I know this rule effectively makes life impossible for large parts of our economy even without other restrictions, for example it prevents all but a fraction of our hospitality industry from operating.”
He added: “We’re today publishing guidance on how business can reduce the risk by taking certain steps to protect workers and customers.
“And these include, for instance, avoiding face-to-face seating by changing office layouts, reducing the number of people in enclosed spaces, improving ventilation, using protective screens and face coverings, closing non-essential social spaces, providing hand santiser, changing shift patterns so that staff work in set teams.”
- 14-day quarantine to remain
Mr Johnson defended the 14-day quarantine period for arrivals to the UK, calling it the “right thing to do”.
Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) said: “If people are to take advantage of these freeing of restrictions, then they must have confidence in the judgment of the Prime Minister and those around him.
“He must surely realise that recent events have done some damage in that regard. If he wishes to repair some of that damage, will he end the much-ridiculed quarantine period for people coming here from overseas?”
Mr Johnson responded: “I do think that it’s very sensible for this country to have measures in place to protect our population from vectors of disease coming back into the UK from abroad. It’s the right thing to do.”
- The British Government will no longer be holding daily Downing Street press conferences.
“From today, the press conferences will no longer be daily,” said a Government spokesman.
“We’ll continue to hold press conferences to coincide with significant announcements, including with the Prime Minister.
“We will be publishing all of the data which has previously been included in the press conference slides on gov.uk every week day.”
In summary:
– Pubs and restaurants will be limited to table service and will be asked to collect customers’ details so they can be traced if there is a coronavirus outbreak.
– Hairdressers will be able to reopen with precautions including the use of visors.
– The domestic tourist industry will be boosted by the reopening of accommodation including hotels, B&Bs and campsites along with most leisure facilities and attractions such as theme parks.
– Outdoor gyms and playgrounds will be returned to use.
– Cinemas, museums and galleries will be allowed to open their doors again.
– Places of worship will reopen, with weddings of up to 30 people allowed – although any receptions afterwards would be severely limited as only one other household would be allowed to join the bride and groom.
