Here’s How Boris Johnson’s New U.K. Lockdown Rules Will Work
While urging the public to stay alert, Johnson has set out his tentative plan for easing the restrictions on daily life in U.K.
(Bloomberg) -- After seven weeks and more than 30,000 deaths, it isn’t yet time to lift the U.K.’s coronavirus lockdown, according to Boris Johnson.
But while urging the public to “stay alert,” the prime minister has set out his tentative plan for easing the restrictions on daily life.
Go to Work
Ministers never told people not to work at all, but to work at home if they could. Now Johnson is changing that emphasis, telling people to go out to work if they can’t work from home. The idea is to get the economy moving again, especially industries such as construction and manufacturing.
Johnson wants people to cycle, walk or drive their own cars to work, rather than take trains and buses because social distancing rules will reduce the space available on public transportation.
The government will outline guidance for businesses on how to make themselves “Covid secure.”
Picnics in the Park
From May 13, people will be able to leave their homes to take exercise as many times as they like. The current restriction on one outing per day will end and people will be able to visit parks to sit or have picnics in their household units -- or even to meet another person, as long as they remain 2 meters (6.6 feet) apart.
No longer will police order people to return home simply because they are sitting on a park bench in the sun. Sports such as golf, tennis, angling, and other leisure activities which don’t require close contact can also take place.
Face Coverings
Johnson is advising people to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces where social distancing isn’t possible, such as on public transportation or in some shops. Coverings can be made at home, and should cover a person’s mouth and nose.
The government stressed these are different from surgical masks or respirators, which should be reserved for those in high-risk environments, like health-care workers.
Hit the Beach
Also from Wednesday, family or household units will be able to drive to beaches or parks to take walks or spend time outdoors. This only applies to England, as different rules may be applied in Wales and Scotland. Social distancing -- staying 2 meters away from others -- will still apply.
Household ‘Bubbles’
The U.K. said it is considering allowing people in a household group to have social contact with one other household group. This would let them, for example, share childcare. The government said the move will be examined in coming weeks.
Heavy Fines
Anyone flouting rules on social distancing will face fines starting at 100 pounds ($124), an increase from 60 pounds. They will rise to a maximum of 3,200 pounds for repeat offenders.
Quarantine
All passengers arriving in the U.K. by air -- except from France -- will soon be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days. That step is designed to stop the virus re-entering the country from overseas.
Shops and Stores
From June 1, Johnson wants to see the “phased reopening” of shops. Detailed guidelines will follow. This week, garden centers are due to reopen in Wales.
Schools Back
Primary schools will begin to reopen from June 1 for children in the youngest age groups -- Reception and Year 1 classes -- and those in their final stages of primary education: 10-year-olds and 11-year-olds in Year 6. The government said it hopes all primary school children will be able to return to classes for a month before the long summer vacation.
At some point before schools break up in July, some secondary school and high school students who are due to take exams next year will be allowed back. These are pupils in Year 10 and Year 12. Other older students won’t return to the classroom before September.
Coffee Time
From July, some parts of the hospitality industry may be allowed to open. In reality, this will be limited to cafes in parks, or those with outdoor spaces which can accommodate social distancing. Pubs with beer gardens aren’t expected to be included.
August is now the earliest that the rest of the hospitality industry can hope to be able to resume business, though it’s far from clear whether pubs and bars will be able to open even then. As ever, it will depend on the infection rates.
Stay Alert
A new five-stage “Covid Alert Level” system will be in place to communicate a clear sense of how bad the virus outbreak is. Level 1 will mean there is no outbreak, and life goes on as normal.
Level 5 is reserved for the sort of “catastrophe” Johnson said the country has so far avoided: a critical peak that overwhelms the National Health Service. The current level is deemed to be 4, and moving down toward 3, officials said.
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