Wary Boris will ease lockdown very gently
BORIS Johnson will let struggling garden centres reopen from Wednesday in one of the first steps out of Covid-19 lockdown, Downing Street sources said last night.
The businesses can welcome customers as long as there are strict social distancing measures in place, the Prime Minister will say.
Mr Johnson’s green light for gardeners will be among the first lockdown restrictions eased in his “road map” outlined in a televised address tomorrow.
But ministers stressed any changes would be limited.
A Number 10 insider said: “As outdoor businesses, garden centres and nurseries are well placed to trade with a low risk of spreading the virus as long as social distancing rules are in force.
“We recognise this has been a particularly difficult time for this industry given the time of year. Hopefully this will give it a boost.”
Centres cannot open cafes or playground areas and precautions must include floor tape to guide customers and shielding for till staff.
Another expected move by Mr Johnson is to let people leave their homes several times a day but not to travel long distances.
Wales stole a march on Westminster yesterday by announcing its garden centres, council-run libraries and rubbish tips can open from Monday.
First Minister Mark Drakeford’s announcement of “small and modest adjustments” is another sign of splits over the pace of lockdown exit in different parts of the UK.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the only change being considered there was allowing people to exercise outdoors for
‘Garden centres and nurseries can trade with a low risk’
longer than an hour a day. And her Northern Ireland counterpart Arlene Foster said there would be only “nuanced changes”.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden warned people not to expect a major relaxation of rules tomorrow.
He said: “The situation remains exactly as it has been for several weeks – people should be staying at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives.That hasn’t changed.
“Once again we have that temptingly sunny bank holiday weekend coming up but please, people should not be leaving home except for the limited reasons we’ve already set out.”
Meanwhile Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticised the Government over the surge in coronavirus deaths in care homes.
In an article coinciding with VE Day he said: “The crisis in our care homes has gone on for too long and we must do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable, many of whom protected our country in its darkest hour.” Mr Dowden said while the death rate remained too high figures showed the number of fatalities were starting to fall.
Mr Dowden is also meeting football authorities including the Premier League next week to see if matches can be played behind closed doors.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said yesterday that although there could be some “divergence” between different parts of the UK, Mr Johnson “is clear that we are going to adopt an approach of maximum caution”.
The spokesman also said ministers were talking to transport operators to determine when their services could be increased to prepare for commuters returning to work.