Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bojo urges caution as England lifts restrictions
ROLL OUT Beer barrel delivered
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has urged the nation to “behave responsibly” when pub gardens reopen and restaurants resume outdoor dining in England today.
Shops deemed non-essential will also reopen, as will hairdressers, indoor gyms, swimming pools, nail salons and zoosy.
However, social mixing indoors will remain heavily restricted, with around 40% of adults yet to receive their first vaccine jab.
Mr Johson said: “I’m sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it’s a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed.
“I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme.”
The fanfare for the easing of restrictions has been muted by the national mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh.
Meanwhile, Wales will also enjoy renewed freedoms from today, with non-essential retail reopening and border restrictions eased to permit travel again with the rest of the UK and Ireland.
Professor Peter Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, told Times Radio: “The watchword has got to be caution
“It’s not clear when or how big it will be, but there is, I think, inevitably going to be a bit of a rebound in the number of cases
“The extent of it really depends on how well we comply with the ongoing restrictions.”