AS PUBS REOPEN, PM TELLS BRITONS TO BEHAVE
LONDON • Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britons to act responsibly as pubs prepare to reopen and the government lifts quarantine rules on travel for 60 countries.
Restaurants, hotels, cinemas and hairdressers will also be allowed to welcome customers for the first time in more than three months on Saturday. Non-essential retailers have been allowed to open since June.
In a further easing of lockdown, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps published a list of countries and territories that will be exempt from rules requiring arrivals to quarantine for 14 days. Those coming from the U.S., where coronavirus infection rates remain high, will still need to quarantine.
“As we take this next step, our biggest step yet, on the road to recovery, I urge the British people to do so safely,” Johnson said at a televised press conference on Friday evening. “The success of these businesses, the livelihoods of those who rely on them, and ultimately the economic health of the whole country is dependent on every single one of us acting responsibly.”
The prime minister warned “we are not out of the woods yet,” saying ministers “will not hesitate in putting on the brakes and reimposing restrictions” if the virus starts spreading again.
Johnson also promised to publish a timetable next week to help get industries including theatres, events, nail bars and indoor gyms back up and running, as well as guidelines so that cricket matches can resume next weekend.
He is trying to jump-start the U.K. economy after the pandemic killed more than 43,000 people, pushing the country into what may be the worst recession in three centuries. Earlier this week, the prime minister accelerated US$6.2 billion of spending, pledging to “build, build, build” in an effort to revive economic activity. Next week, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is to unveil more measures.
Sunak is focusing on preserving as many jobs as possible. His statement next week is likely to steer clear of big tax cuts and focus instead on a few targeted measures to help employment. Then, in the fall, he’ll outline a wider package of fiscal stimulus.
Labour critic Anneliese Dodds said Sunak must create and protect jobs as well as ensure the wealthy bear the brunt of any future tax rises. She also called on the chancellor to extend the government’s furlough program — due to end Oct. 31 — in areas where local lockdowns are needed and in sectors of the economy that are struggling to restart.
Shapps unveiled a list of countries and territories that the government considers safe enough to waive a requirement for arrivals in England to self-isolate.
From July 10, people arriving in England from 74 countries and territories will no longer have to observe a two-week quarantine. Russia, Portugal and the U.S. are not on the list.