People should aim to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible, including on public transport and in shops, the government has said.
In a new 50-page blueprint for lifting the lockdown in England, Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants all primary school children to have at least a month's teaching before the summer holidays and some hairdressers and beauty salons back in business at some point in late summer.
The document, called "Our Plan to Rebuild: The UK Government's COVID-19 recovery strategy", sets out the three-phase approach, starting this week with further lockdown loosening at the start of June and further changes potentially from 4 July.
It says:
- From this week those with jobs in food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research in laboratories should return to the workplace
- The government wants children of key workers and those who are vulnerable to go back to school at once
- Guidance is being amended to clarify that paid childcare, for example nannies and childminders, can restart work
- The government is now advising that people should aim to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not always possible and they come into contact with others that they do not normally meet, for example on public transport or in some shops. Homemade cloth face coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstances
- People may exercise outside as many times each day as they wish. For example, this would include angling and tennis. You will still not be able to use areas like playgrounds, outdoor gyms or ticketed outdoor leisure venues, where there is a higher risk of close contact and touching surfaces
- Mr Johnson tells MPs that "parliament must set a national example" by moving in step with public health guidance and holding more meetings in the chamber
- When travelling to outdoor spaces, the document says it is important that people respect the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and do not travel to different parts of the UK where it would be inconsistent with guidance or regulations issued by the relevant devolved administration
- From next month, the government is looking at permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact
- The government has delayed the introduction of household "bubbles" to connect people. It says: "Over the coming weeks, the government will engage on the nature and timing of the measures in this step, in order to consider the widest possible array of views on how best to balance the health, economic and social effects."
- In the third and final phase, which could begin on 4 July, the government wants to open some hairdressers and beauty salons, churches and some cinemas
The new guidelines mean people will now be able to drive to outdoor open spaces "irrespective of distance" in England from this week.
Advertisement
The government also opens the door to limited social gatherings with one other person outside from this week, providing they are socially distanced, according to the document.
Devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland have advised the "stay home" message remains and introduced much more limited changes to the lockdown.
More from Covid-19
The government's document has been published after criticism that the PM's speech to the nation on Sunday was confusing, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer saying Mr Johnson's statement raised "more questions than answers".
The 50-page plan says the government "is updating the rules so that, as well as exercise, people can now also spend time outdoors subject to: not meeting up with any more than one person from outside your household".
However, meetings with more than one person are forbidden.
The document warns: "Much of what is desirable is not yet possible. So the government's plan considers carefully when and where to take risk. A 'zero-risk' approach will not work in these unprecedented times."
Writing the foreword, Mr Johnson says: "It is not a quick return to 'normality.' Nor does it lay out an easy answer. And, inevitably, parts of this plan will adapt as we learn more about the virus. But it is a plan that should give the people of the United Kingdom hope.
"It is clear that the only feasible long-term solution lies with a vaccine or drug-based treatment."
[contf]
[contfnew]
sky news
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
