Politics
Boris Johnson to address nation at 7pm today with speech announcing roadmap out of lockdown
BORIS Johnson will address the nation at 7pm today to spell out his roadmap out of lockdown.
The PM is expected to lay out a four-step plan to lead Britain back to normal life.
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Boris Johnson will address the nation at 7pm tomorrow to spell out his roadmap out of lockdown (File)[/caption]
Mr Johnson will first speak to MPs in the House of Commons at 3pm today to explain his approach.
He will later address the nation at 7pm during a Downing Street press conference.
Mr Johnson has repeatedly stressed that lockdown will be eased cautiously, and he will be guided by “data not dates”.
Regional tiers have been ditched and all of England will begin the phased return to normality.
Under Step One of his plans, schools will reopen from March 8 – though the government may opt for a staggered return following a backlash from teaching unions.
Brits will also be able to socialise outside with a friend or relative from another household, with current regulations limiting meet-ups to exercise only.
This will be followed by an end to restrictions on close family interaction, meaning children will be able to hug their grandparents again.
Care home residents will also be able to hold hands with visitors within a few weeks, with full guidance set to be issued in the next fortnight.
Later in April, non-essential retail is expected to open should the infection rate continue to remain stable.
However, the hospitality industry is not set to reopen fully until May – though pubs could be allowed to serve pints outside before this date.
Brits should be able to enjoy drinks alfresco outside from April if cases continue to fall at the current rate.
The national stay-at-home order is to be scrapped as the Rule of Six returns on March 29 to parks and private gardens, with sports back on as part of a four-step plan to ease lockdown.
If just two households come together they can meet with no cap on their size.
This means families will be meeting together in parks and gardens by Easter.
Mr Johnson will also reveal dates to pencil in diaries for the return of much-missed activities before all restrictions are lifted in a final leap.
In a boost for millions, outdoor sport will resume from the end of March – with team games including football, rugby and hockey set to be allowed.
The PM will also raise hopes of fans being back into grounds in time for the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, now starting in June.
A Whitehall source told The Sun: “There will be four steps, possibly five, each with dates and details about what businesses can reopen and which activities will be allowed.”
It comes as Boris Johnson last night vowed to offer every adult in Britain a jab against Covid-19 by the end of July.
The PM is confident he can speed up the vaccination programme – meaning lockdown could be eased more quickly than planned.
By last night, 17,247,442 had been vaccinated — including two-thirds of the 65 to 69 age group who only received their invitation letters last week — thanks to hard-working NHS staff.
And the government has set a target of vaccinating all over-50s by April 15.
Should this target be reached, 98 per cent of those most likely to die, or be hospitalised would be protected.
He will stand by his pledge to offer a second dose within 12 weeks of the first.
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NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said yesterday that the jabs campaign was going “full steam ahead”.
He added: “Across England, nearly a third of adults have now had their first jab.
“Early signs suggest this is contributing to the welcome fall in coronavirus hospitalisations that we’re now seeing.”
