Slight easing of lockdown as Johnson and Sturgeon clash

BORIS Johnson has said schools and non-essential shops will remain shut in England until at least June because the coronavirus transmission rate is still too high to significantly ease the lockdown.

But the Prime Minister said people who cannot work from home should be “actively encouraged” to return to their jobs from today and granted unlimited exercise i n England from Wednesday.

Mr Johnson outlined “the first sketch of a road map”, with a new alert system to determine when aspects of the economy and social lives can be restarted.

But before his address to the nation yesterday evening, he provoked a row with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over his new “stay alert” slogan.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned the messaging could be “catastrophic”, as each of the devolved administrations said they would keep using the stronger “stay home” slogan.

After official figures suggested the UK death toll passed 36,800, Mr Johnson offered “the shape of a plan” to ease the lockdown he imposed on March 23.

He gave five phases of a “Covid alert level” that will be primarily influenced by the rate of transmission, or R, which he said is between 0.5 and 0.9.

The PM said he believes England may be in a position “to begin the phased reopening of shops” and get primary pupils back to school in steps staggered by year groups “at the earliest by June 1”.

In the third step, “at the earliest by July”, he said that ministers hope to re-open some of the hospitality industry.

Other than the messaging, there i s currently little difference in practise between the four nations, with Ms Sturgeon also ending the once-daily exercise rule from today.

A total of 1,857 patients have died i n Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 10 on Saturday.