Hopes pubs and hairdressers could reopen early are dashed

PUBS, bars, restaurants and hairdressers will not be able to reopen until July 4 at the earliest.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma told the Downing Street press conference: “I know there’s been a lot of speculation about when we might be able to reopen these parts of the economy and I completely understand why we’re all so keen to get them back up and running and I absolutely share that enthusiasm. But we continue to follow the road map which set out our ambition to reopen these sectors from July 4 at the earliest.

“As soon as we can we will publish further safer working guidance for restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as hairdressers, barbers, nail bars and related services.”

There were no imminent plans to reduce the two-metre social distancing guideline – seen as key to making bars and restaurants profitable when the times comes to reopen. Mr Sharma said: ‘’I do get why businesses in a whole range of sectors make the economic case why you would want to move closer than two metres. But, ultimately, this is about what is safe. We will keep this under review. We will only make changes when it is safe to do so.’’

Health and Safety Executive chief executive Sarah Albon said reducing the number of infections as well as the rate of transmission was key to altering the two-metre rule. She said: “It requires a view both of the chance of the infection being passed on but also the prevalence in society, because that mix of how many people in the population have got this illness combined with what’s a safe distance gives you the probability of something being passed on.”

Mr Sharma confirmed that shops can reopen on Monday if they comply with Covid-secure guidelines. He said: “This is the latest step in the careful restarting of our economy and will enable high streets up and down the country to spring back to life.”

But he added enforcement notices could be issued if shops reopened without following the guidance.

Asked when holidays and staying overnight in self-catering properties and cottages in Britain would be allowed, Mr Sharma said the government wanted to open up the economy in a phased and careful manner and that had been happening since the start of the month.

“It’s really important to continue to support those type of businesses and the government is doing so – with the furlough and grant schemes,” he said.