The Government says it "can't rule out" the return of tiered lockdown restrictions to deal with "local Covid outbreaks". 99% of the English population lived under the toughest tiers when such a system was last imposed.
Boris hailed what he called a "very considerable step on the road back to normality" at a Downing Street press briefing this evening, outlining what he's graciously going to "allow" us to do from May 17th.
Mark Harper and Steve Baker – the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Covid Recovery Group – have come out swinging today, demanding the Government end all social distancing restrictions on June 21st.
A lot has been said about the businesses that will be able to reopen on May 17th. But what about those that will have to stay shut beyond this date – and, of course, those that have shut permanently through lockdown?
As if we ever needed the Government's permission, Michael Gove says that Brits will be allowed to hug friends and family from May 17th – that is, "all being well"!
The Department of Health's daily update showed four more Covid deaths in the UK yesterday, making May 2nd and 3rd the lowest two-day total for eight months. What more "data" do you need Boris? Time to open up.
Professor Neil Ferguson says that the success of the U.K.’s vaccine rollout means life will feel more normal by the summer, though we will still “not completely back to normal”.
Boris Johnson recently said there was a “very good chance” all Covid restrictions would come to an end on June 21st, yet mask-wearing and caps on numbers at large events could stay in place beyond the “end” of lockdown.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has rejected calls to speed up the exit from lockdown and has admitted that rules on mask-wearing and social distancing could stay in place beyond June 21st.
New SAGE modelling to be presented to ministers ahead of stage three of reopening on May 17th will show the risk of a 'third wave' of Covid infections in the UK has diminished dramatically and may not happen at all.
