British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a phased plan to end England’s Covid-19 lockdown.
Johnson, under pressure to allow more freedoms to millions of people stuck at home and offer hope to shuttered businesses, said the first stage would prioritise schools returning on March 8 when only minimal socialising outdoors would be allowed.
The so-called roadmap would then pass through four stages, with five weeks in-between, and the final step, when most restrictions would be lifted, not starting until June 21 at the earliest.
“The threat remains substantial”, Johnson told parliament, saying it was crucial the roadmap was cautious but irreversible.
“We’re able to take these steps because of the resolve of the British public and the extraordinary success of our NHS (National Health Service) in vaccinating more than 17.5 million people across the UK.”
With almost 130,000 fatalities, Britain has suffered the world’s fifth-highest official death toll from the pandemic and its $3 trillion economy has seen its biggest crash in over 300 years.
But Johnson said the fast start to the vaccine roll-out plus a sharp fall in infections can now set out a cautious easing of England’s tough national lockdown, which started on Jan. 5.
As the plan unfolds, lawmakers will have a chance to vote on specific steps. Authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which are responsible for their own public health, will also ease restrictions over the coming months.
Follow us on:
The EFCC has arrested three suspects for alleged vote buying during the ongoing Edo governorship…
Evacuations of 30,000 people are underway in central Japan as heavy rains threaten severe flooding,…
An employee of California's state fire protection agency, known as Cal Fire, has been arrested…
In Mexico's western Sinaloa state, at least 53 people have been killed and 51 others…
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the arrest of two suspected political thugs during…
President Bola Tinubu on Saturday rejoiced with his better half, Oluremi Tinubu, on the occasion…