U.K. unveils plan for ‘cautious’ reopening

• Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a map out of lockdown for England on Monday that would keep some businesses shuttered until the summer, saying caution was necessary to ensure there were no reversals on a “one-way road to freedom.”

After imposing one of the strictest lockdowns in the western world in January to counter a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus, Johnson said Britain was now in a position to enjoy the fruits of one of the world’s fastest vaccine programs.

Starting in two weeks with the reopening of schools, the phased plan will go through four stages, with at least five weeks in between each stage. The final step, when most restrictions will be lifted, will not start until June 21 at the earliest.

Britain and the world would not eliminate COVID-19 altogether, Johnson said. “And we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental well-being, and the life chances of our children,” Johnson told parliament.

“And that is why it is so crucial that this roadmap is cautious but also irreversible. We’re setting out on what I hope and believe is a one-way road to freedom.”

With almost 130,000 fatalities, Britain has suffered the world’s fifth-highest official death toll from the pandemic and its economy has seen its biggest crash in over 300 years.

But in two months it has already managed to provide an initial vaccine dose to more than a quarter of the population, the fastest rollout of any large country, making it a test case for governments worldwide hoping to return life to normal.

Even with encouraging data on the impact of vaccines, Britain’s cautious approach highlights how slow a process it will likely be for many countries.

Johnson has come under pressure, including from many in his party, to allow more freedoms to millions stuck at home and offer hope to firms forced to close.

Under his plan, schools will reopen on March 8, freeing parents who have had to juggle work and home schooling. However, easing of social-mixing bans will initially be limited and the government will ask people to work from home when possible for some weeks until it has completed a review before the summer.

At the end of March, a small number of people will be able to mix outdoors, but non-essential shops, and outdoor-only service in restaurants and pubs, will not reopen until April 12.

Authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, responsible for their own public health, will also ease restrictions over coming months.

The Confederation of British Industry said the plan offered hope, but the hospitality industry said it would be hard for many firms to survive until they could reopen.