‘NOT THE TIME TO LIFT LOCKDOWN’
BORIS ADVISES CAUTION, BUT ANNOUNCES SOME RELAXATIONS
LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday said the coronavirus lockdown will stay in place at least till June 1 and unveiled a cautious, step-bystep plan to lift the restrictions imposed seven weeks ago.
In a pre-recorded speech that was broadcast on Sunday, Johnson thanked the public for maintaining social distancing and bearing with the discomforts of the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
He said the restrictions had helped bring the rate of infection done sharply, but it was too early to end the lockdown. “Though we have made progress in satisfying at least some of the conditions I have given,” he said, “We have by no means fulfilled all of them.And so no, this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week.”
He added that primary school children could return and shops could re-open from June 1.
He also encouraged those who can’t do their job at home to return to work. He doubled down on his message to “stay alert”, which was posted to his Twitter account earlier on Sunday. “Everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus by staying alert and following the rules,” Johnson said on Twitter.