PM ‘optimistic’ over roadmap plan
BORIS JOHNSON has said he is “very optimistic” that he will be able to fully remove all of England’s coronavirus restrictions on June 21, but warned “nothing can be guaranteed”.
The Prime Minister urged the nation to be “prudent” by continuing to follow the rules after publishing his map to gradually lift the lockdown over the coming months. Meanwhile, England’s schedule for easing restrictions was followed yesterday afternoon by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon detailing her own plan for easing Scotland’s lockdown. She said the stay-at-home order is expected to be lifted from April 5, with a phased reopening of the economy hoped to start on April 26 and to be separated by at least three weeks.
Ms Sturgeon said she hopes to be able to give more detail in mid-March on the easing of restrictions.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford suggesting stay-at-home orders could be eased in around three weeks. In Northern Ireland, First Minister Arlene Foster has promised that a “decision-making framework” on how the executive plans to exit lockdown will be published on March 1.
Facing criticism from some Tory MPs over the pace of change, Mr Johnson said he was “hopeful” that all legal controls can be removed on the final date earmarked in his four-step plan.
Mr Johnson also announced that senior minister Michael Gove will lead a review into the possible use of vaccine passports to access currently closed venues, such as pubs and theatres.
Having insisted that he will be led by “data not dates”, the Prime Minister expressed optimism that relaxations will be complete by June 21, as tentatively scheduled in his road map, when nightclubs could reopen and large-scale events resume.
“I’m hopeful but obviously nothing can be guaranteed and it all depends on the way we continue to be prudent and continue to follow the guidance in each stage,” he said.
“Genuinely, because of the immense possibilities of the rollout, because science has given us this way of creating a shield around our population, we can really look at that June 21 date with some optimism.” Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock appealed for people to get jabs amid warnings the virus may persist in deprived communities where uptake is low.
The chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of lockdown-sceptical Tory MPs, Mark Harper, said the country should not be “held back” by those who refuse it. However, Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of Government advisory group SPI-M, warned that failure to ensure all communities are protected could lead to a new wave. Government data up to February 22 shows that of the 18,558,969 jabs given in the UK so far, 17,916,181 were first doses – up 192,341 on the previous day. As of 9am yesterday, there had been a further 8,489 lab-confirmed cases in the UK.