Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Last orders ..UK plans to unlock but pubs stay shut
PUBS will be the last places to re-open as lockdown is eased, the Government has confirmed.
But some local cricket and grassroots football could return – as long as spectators can stay in the open air.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries said: “Outdoor environments are safer. But if you go with a load of friends and sit in a pub… that’s not a good thing to do.”
And Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the No10 coronavirus update: “Transmission is significantly less outdoors than indoors.”
They were speaking as the UK death toll from Covid-19 rose to 28,131, up 621 on the day before. They said nearly 106,000 tests took place over 24 hours.
Boris Johnson is expected to unveil a roadmap on Thursday on how to end lockdown. But he will avoid committing to dates.
The timing depends on the “R”, or reproductive rate, of the virus, which must be under one – with infections continually falling.
Mr Jenrick added: “We’ve been thinking about different settings – the workplace, public transport, schools, outdoors. But the moment is not yet.”
Schools will be first to go back, with a phased return. Ministers hope that will be before the summer holidays. A senior Tory said: “Parents can’t go to work until their children are at school.
“That must be the first stage to unlock.”
Public transport will also be expected to give people space to get to work safely.
That could mean every other row and seat on buses and trains left vacant. And scientists will advise if the two metre rule can be cut to one.
Approval for the Government handling of the crisis has fallen five points to its lowest yet say pollsters Opinium, leading to concerns people will flout social distancing rules out of impatience.
It is feared more than 11 million will be out of work by the summer.