UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday unveiled a four-step roadmap to “remove all legal limits on social contacts” in England before June 21, assuming some evidence is met.
Why it’s important: The UK has the worst number of coronavirus deaths in Europe and saw its economy shrink by 9.9% in 2020, the largest drop in production in more than 300 years.
- The Johnson administration imposed a national blockade for the third time in January, as cases increased due to the emergence of a new, more infectious variant of coronavirus.
- But the launch of vaccines in the country has been one of the best in the world (with 26.1% of the population vaccinated as of Monday), which has led to a substantial drop in infections and the optimism of the slowdown in the outbreak. in the coming months.
Details: Before taking each step, the government will review the infection data and ensure that the following four steps are followed:
- The vaccine deployment program continues successfully.
- Sample of evidence vaccines are effective enough to reduce hospitalizations and deaths in vaccinated people.
- Infection rates don’t risk an increase in hospitalizations that puts unsustainable pressure on the National Health Service.
- Government evaluation of the new risks does not fundamentally change with the new virus variants.
If these tests are met, the phasing out of lock restrictions will begin before the following dates:
- March 8: Schools and universities will be open to all students.
- March 29: Outdoor sports will be allowed and mixed in groups of six people.
- April 12: Fitness centers, libraries, lounges, outdoor hospitality, all retail and indoor children’s activities will be allowed.
- May 17: Indoor entertainment and attractions, indoor sports, outdoor 30-person limits, some important events with capacity limits and international travel (subject to review) will be allowed.
- June 21: There are no legal limits to social contact: nightclubs will be reopened and larger events will be allowed.
What they say: “There will be a lot of people worried about us being too ambitious and it’s arrogant to impose any kind of plan on a virus. But I also think the vaccination program has dramatically changed the odds in our favor and it’s on that basis that we can now proceed,” he said. said Johnson Monday to members of Parliament.
Read the full plan.