Britain's route out of coronavirus lockdown is a five-stage plan staggered over the next six months.
Boris Johnson will set out his “roadmap” on Sunday. He said the first steps will happen the next day “if we possibly can”.
The Mirror understands a draft 50-page plan has been drawn up to get the country back to normal.
The Government's blueprint aims to to relax the lockdown in staggered steps between now and October.
However, officials fear a second wave of coronavirus or a seasonal flu outbreak this autumn could blow their plans off course.
BORIS JOHNSON'S FIVE-STAGE PLAN
1. From Monday
Unlimited exercise allowed. Employees to be encouraged to return to workplaces that have stayed open through- out the lockdown if safe. Garden centres could reopen while there may be more guidance on the use of outdoor spaces including open-air markets, high streets and cemeteries.
2. End of May/Start of June
Phased return of primary schools in England, starting with Year 6. Households could be allowed to expand “social bubble” to meet one other household of family or friends.
3. June (End)
Phased return of secondary schools in England before the summer holidays. Small team sports such as five-a-side football could be allowed, along with outdoor gatherings of fewer than 30 people. Cafes with outdoor seating could reopen while outdoor sports like golf, tennis and angling might resume. Possible return of Premier League matches, although behind closed doors.
4. End of August/Start of September
Pubs, bars and restaurants could gradually reopen although customers would be expected to follow strict social distancing rules.
5. October
Possible return of football fans to matches. Gyms could be allowed to re-open. But any further lifting of restrictions to get back to normal life would be in doubt amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus or an outbreak of seasonal flu.
A Government source told the Mirror: “It’s a bit of a shambles.
“Nobody can quite agree what to do and when to do it. Somebody comes up with a bright idea, but the practicalities get in the way.
"We’re not South Korea.”
The plans come as the UK became the first country in Europe to officially report more than 30,000 deaths.
A further 649 people have died, taking the total death toll to 30,076.
The PM clashed with Labour leader Keir Starmer over the figures today when he made his first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions in six weeks.
It was also reported today that Public Health England had contacted local councils telling them to drop the ‘stay home’ message from websites before a new slogan is introduced for the next phase.
From Monday, staff will be encouraged to return to firms that stayed open during the lockdown.
Guidance for adapting workplaces to make them safer could be introduced, although leaked proposals this week were met with alarm by unions.
Officials admit the public will need more reassurance before emerging from the lockdown, particularly if they use public transport.
From the start of June, primary schools in England will have a phased return.
Households could also be allowed to expand their “social bubble” to one other household of family or friends.
At the end of June, secondary schools will return, some outdoor activities and cafes.
Then, pubs and restaurants could reopen at the end of August or early September.
The final stage of lifting restrictions, which could include the opening of gyms and and the return of fans to Premier League matches, is the least predictable.
Earmarked for October, it is being fiercely debated, amid fears of a second wave of Covid-19 or a flu outbreak.
Mr Johnson could also tighten other restrictions, such as tougher border controls which could require all arrivals downloading the new NHS track and trace app.
Unless the “test, track and trace” strategy is running at full capacity, restrictions may be reintroduced, possibly with regional lockdowns.
The number of deaths involving Covid-19 that have been registered in the UK currently stands at 32,898.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the stay-at-home order for 1.5m of the most vulnerable people may have to be extended beyond 12 weeks.
Ministers and officials met at No10 tonight to discuss the plan, with insiders saying it is not finalised.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “What we’ll have to do is monitor the impact those changes are having on the R (transmission) rate in particular.
“Once we have that information, we’ll be able to judge if and when we’re in a position to go further.”
At PMQs, Mr Johnson said he “bitterly regrets” the scale of the crisis in care homes but said he is “working very hard” to tackle it.
He said there had been a “palpable improvement” in recent days – but figures show care home deaths continue to rise.
The PM said he was “enraged” by failures to get protective kit to the frontline staff but the Government has a “massive plan” to ramp up supply.
Mr Starmer accused the PM of failing to “get a grip” on the crisis.
Senior Tory James Brokenshire, a Home Office minister, admitted “mistakes have been made” in the Government’s response.
Meanwhile, cinema bosses are presenting evidence to MPs, suggesting they can safely reopen by the end of June.
And countries across Europe have already begun to ease lockdown restrictions.
Italy and Spain, both badly hit by the crisis, have begun to relax rules, as have Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark and Austria.
SOURCE:
Britain’s plan for returning to normal will be implemented in five stages over the next six months, it is understood. Boris Johnson is set to lay out his ‘roadmap’ for exiting lockdown on Sunday, with some changes hoped to take effect the next day. While that is sooner than expected, a 50-page blueprint being drafted by officials indicates some restrictions won’t be lifted until at least October, according to The Daily Mirror. The five-stage plan reportedly proposes reopening some garden centres and open-air markets as early as Monday, but keeping bigger indoor venues like pubs, bars and restaurants closed until August.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/07/five-part-plan-get-uk-lockdown-six-months-12667578/?fbclid=IwAR3rop1Mh37zh_HesT1L4ckkzcIwS3pG9n-yiaHoQxLqQAD3P_blymU70V4?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
Britain’s plan for returning to normal will be implemented in five stages over the next six months, it is understood. Boris Johnson is set to lay out his ‘roadmap’ for exiting lockdown on Sunday, with some changes hoped to take effect the next day. While that is sooner than expected, a 50-page blueprint being drafted by officials indicates some restrictions won’t be lifted until at least October, according to The Daily Mirror. The five-stage plan reportedly proposes reopening some garden centres and open-air markets as early as Monday, but keeping bigger indoor venues like pubs, bars and restaurants closed until August.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/07/five-part-plan-get-uk-lockdown-six-months-12667578/?fbclid=IwAR3rop1Mh37zh_HesT1L4ckkzcIwS3pG9n-yiaHoQxLqQAD3P_blymU70V4?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
Britain’s plan for returning to normal will be implemented in five stages over the next six months, it is understood. Boris Johnson is set to lay out his ‘roadmap’ for exiting lockdown on Sunday, with some changes hoped to take effect the next day. While that is sooner than expected, a 50-page blueprint being drafted by officials indicates some restrictions won’t be lifted until at least October, according to The Daily Mirror. The five-stage plan reportedly proposes reopening some garden centres and open-air markets as early as Monday, but keeping bigger indoor venues like pubs, bars and restaurants closed until August.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/07/five-part-plan-get-uk-lockdown-six-months-12667578/?fbclid=IwAR3rop1Mh37zh_HesT1L4ckkzcIwS3pG9n-yiaHoQxLqQAD3P_blymU70V4?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
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