UK lockdown undoing phased

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday set out a phased plan to end England’s Covid19 lockdown, offering a ‘‘cautious’’ approach to try to prevent a return to wholesale restrictions that have hobbled the economy.

Johnson said the first stage would prioritise schools returning on March 8 when only minimal socialising outdoors would be allowed.

The socalled road map laid out by Johnson would then pass through four stages, with five weeks in between, and the final step — when most restrictions would be lifted — not starting until June 21 at the earliest.

‘‘There is therefore no credible route to a zeroCovid19 Britain or a zeroCovid world. And we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental wellbeing and the life chances of our children,’’ Johnson told Parliament.

He also said international travel from England would be banned until May 17 at the earliest, but wouldbe holidaymakers will be given clarity on making plans for the summer by April 12, when a review on how to restart travel safely would be published.