U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in a televised
message Sunday that he is extending the country’s lockdown
measures, but unveiled a three-stage plan to reopen schools, some
businesses and the hospitality industry in June and July.
Why it matters: The U.K. has the
second-highest confirmed coronavirus death toll in the world and
the highest in Europe. The country has reported more than 220,000
recorded cases and 31,000 deaths from the virus as of Sunday,
according to Johns Hopkins University[1] data.
- “This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week,”
Johnson said. “Instead we are taking the first careful steps to
modify our measures.”
The big picture: Johnson stressed that
people who can work from home should do so, but said that those who
cannot should be “actively encouraged” to return to work on
Monday.
- That includes construction or manufacturing workers, who should
avoid using public transportation to get to work and should
maintain social distancing while on the job, Johnson said. - Quarantine will also now be required for people arriving in the
country by air to prevent reinfection from abroad.
What to watch: The prime minister
announced the basic contours of a roadmap for how he hopes to
further lift lockdown measures over the coming weeks.
- Stage 1: Johnson said that starting
Wednesday, people can to leave their homes to exercise, to sit in
local parks, and to play sports with members of their own
household. - Stage 2: By June 1, Johnson said the
government believes the country may be able to slowly begin to
reopen shops and schools. - Stage 3: By July, he hopes the government
can begin to reopen some of the hospitality industry and other
public places, “provided they are safe and enforce social
distancing.”
Yes, but: He noted that transitioning to
each stage is “conditional” and depends on “all of us, the entire
country, to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to
keep that [rate of infection] down.”
What they’re saying: Johnson has been
criticized by his rivals for a lack of clarity on key details and
for rushing to send Britons back to work while the virus remains a
significant threat to public health.
- “This statement raises as many questions as it answers,” Labour
Party leader Keir Starmer told the BBC[2]. “We see
the prospect of England, Scotland and Wales pulling in different
directions, so there’s a big gap here for the government to make
up.” - “I accept a plan had to be set out, but to lack that basic
clarity and consensus is a real problem.”
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in a televised
message Sunday that he is extending the country’s lockdown
measures, but unveiled a three-stage plan to reopen schools, some
businesses and the hospitality industry in June and July.
Why it matters: The U.K. has the
second-highest confirmed coronavirus death toll in the world and
the highest in Europe. The country has reported more than 220,000
recorded cases and 31,000 deaths from the virus as of Sunday,
according to Johns Hopkins University[1] data.
- “This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week,”
Johnson said. “Instead we are taking the first careful steps to
modify our measures.”
The big picture: Johnson stressed that
people who can work from home should do so, but said that those who
cannot should be “actively encouraged” to return to work on
Monday.
- That includes construction or manufacturing workers, who should
avoid using public transportation to get to work and should
maintain social distancing while on the job, Johnson said. - Quarantine will also now be required for people arriving in the
country by air to prevent reinfection from abroad.
What to watch: The prime minister
announced the basic contours of a roadmap for how he hopes to
further lift lockdown measures over the coming weeks.
- Stage 1: Johnson said that starting
Wednesday, people can to leave their homes to exercise, to sit in
local parks, and to play sports with members of their own
household. - Stage 2: By June 1, Johnson said the
government believes the country may be able to slowly begin to
reopen shops and schools. - Stage 3: By July, he hopes the government
can begin to reopen some of the hospitality industry and other
public places, “provided they are safe and enforce social
distancing.”
Yes, but: He noted that transitioning to
each stage is “conditional” and depends on “all of us, the entire
country, to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to
keep that [rate of infection] down.”
What they’re saying: Johnson has been
criticized by his rivals for a lack of clarity on key details and
for rushing to send Britons back to work while the virus remains a
significant threat to public health.
- “This statement raises as many questions as it answers,” Labour
Party leader Keir Starmer told the BBC[2]. “We see
the prospect of England, Scotland and Wales pulling in different
directions, so there’s a big gap here for the government to make
up.” - “I accept a plan had to be set out, but to lack that basic
clarity and consensus is a real problem.”