Today is a turning point for Britain... so don’t mess it up
BORIS Johnson has pleaded with revellers to “enjoy summer safely” by not going over the top when England’s pubs reopen today.
The Prime Minister urged people to abide by social distancing restrictions as he declared Super Saturday a “big turning point” for the country.
He also announced that cricket is now expected to be allowed next weekend and that gym reopenings will follow in a “couple of weeks”.
Police are braced for a weekend of chaos after more than 100 days of lockdown and they admitted they are “praying for rain” to keep crowds down.
Pubs and bars are able to reopen under new rules in a dramatic easing of coronavirus restrictions. Hairdressers are also among businesses allowed to restart for the first time in 15 weeks, with many reporting waiting lists of thousands.
Mr Johnson defended changing the rules on a Saturday, despite critics claiming it would lead to trouble, saying that he did not believe it would make much difference.
Restrictions are being eased only after analysis of the statistical risks, he added.
The PM explained: “You’re appreciably less likely now to be in close proximity to someone who has it than you were a couple of weeks ago, so we’re making progress.
“We aimed for July 4, we wanted to set ourselves a target, we think we’re in good shape. But my message is, ‘Let’s not blow it now, folks’.
“We have done a fantastic job so far in bearing down on this disease collectively.” England’s deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries echoed the concerns of the PM, saying: “We are at a very sensitive stage of fighting this virus.
“If people don’t act responsibly, if they don’t follow social distancing measures or if they try to return directly to the way of life before lockdown, I’m in no doubt the scales will begin to tip against us.
“Scientists can’t stop the spread of the virus yet. That is down to all of us, in what we do. Enjoy your freedom responsibly, reawaken your communities, but don’t put your efforts, and the efforts of the nation, to waste. We must not go back.” Some pubs had been planning to reopen as the clock struck midnight to make the most of rule changes but the ban stayed in place until 6am to stop gatherings in the early hours.
Temperatures are set to reach a pleasant 70F (21C) today, prompting fears many will flock to parks, beaches and open spaces to drink excessively as they toast freedom.
David Jamieson, Labour’s West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, claimed it was “very bad” timing by the Government to allow the first reopenings on a weekend. He added: “When the weather is inclement, the problems we have are somewhat reduced. So we are praying for rain.”
John Apter, from the Police Federation of England and Wales, confessed: “There is a lot of apprehension around about this weekend.
“Many forces have cancelled leave applications and rest days with officers working extended shifts. I just don’t know how the public is going to react.”
Mr Johnson admitted it was possible to find “all sorts of inconsistencies” in the rule changes after being asked why a father could not walk his
daughter down the aisle but driving lessons are allowed. He vowed to try to get theatres going “as fast as we can”.
Mr Johnson urged people to wear face coverings when in confined spaces with people from outside their household, revealing he has a mask with a Florence Nightingale pattern that looks “pretty scary”.
He said there will be a “moment of remembrance” today for people “whose lives have been lost before their time”.
At 9pm, a candle will be lit on the doorstep of No 10 in remembrance of Covid-19 victims. The building will also be bathed in blue light to mark the 72nd anniversary of the NHS.
Mr Johnson takes part in a national clap for the NHS tomorrow and will host tea in the No10 garden for NHS workers, including some of the team who cared for him while he was fighting the disease in hospital.
He said “great progress” continues to be made in the battle against the virus and there are now regularly fewer than 1,000 new cases each day.
The Office for National Statistics estimates about one person in every 2,200 in England has the virus.
And Mr Johnson admitted the Leicester spike shows the it has not gone away.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said the Government was trying to balance risks and urged the public to be realistic about the “really serious risks on both sides of the path we are trying to walk”.
ONS data showed almost 20,000 care home residents had died with Covid-19 to June 12.
Mr Johnson recognised there had been “far too many lives lost in care homes” and that the Government would “go over and look at” whether an earlier lockdown could have prevented some deaths.