British Prime Minister Johnson announced tonight that a series of planned eases for England will continue. Next Monday, the terraces, hairdressers, non-essential shops and gyms in England may reopen.
Because the vaccination program is well on schedule, some room has been created, according to Johnson. “On Monday the 12th, I also go to the pub to carefully drink a pint,” added Johnson.
England has been working with a road map since February. According to that schedule, a new round of easing is scheduled for May 17 – from that date the English could also travel internationally again. Whether that will continue, Johnson did not want to say tonight.
At the press conference, the prime minister thought it was too early to say whether the English could go on holiday abroad again during the summer holidays. Heathrow, the UK’s largest airport, is disappointed that the Prime Minister has not said anything concrete about the holiday season. According to Heathrow, the aviation industry needs a clear timetable.
As soon as travel is allowed again, the government wants to set up a traffic light system for tourist destinations. In red countries, travelers must be quarantined when they return to a hotel, in orange countries this is allowed at home. Countries go ‘green’ if they admit tourists based on a negative corona test result.
The schedule for the resumption of international (air) traffic will be further elaborated in the coming week. Johnson said he wants to prevent vacationers from bringing the coronavirus back to the UK.
Leader in Europe
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own schedules, which, incidentally, do not differ much from those of England.
The United Kingdom was hard hit by the virus with nearly 127,000 deaths, but is currently the European leader in corona vaccinations. More than 31 million residents – or 6 in 10 adults – have already received a first shot. By the end of July, all adults must have received at least one dose of a corona vaccine.
England wants to routinely test all children and adults twice a week to prevent new outbreaks. Free self-tests will soon be available for this.
