By: V4 Agency
The UK is planning to end restrictions on social contact in the summer. However, the spread of the Indian variant may cause deviation from the scheduled roadmap.
21 June is the day probably all British citizens are looking forward to. This is the earliest date when all restrictions can be lifted, according to the current plans of the UK government.
There is “nothing conclusive” in the data that means we “would have to deviate from the roadmap” out of lockdown, PM Johnson said on a visit to a vaccination centre in London.
Boris Johnson’s government is scheduled to review pandemic-related restrictions and their possible relaxation every five weeks. The UK’s roadmap to easing lockdown measures sets out four steps, with 21 June being the earliest date when the country can return to normalcy.
A precondition for reopening is to prevent new virus variants from spreading at a worrying speed. Recently, however, rising cases of the Indian variant have been reported from several parts of the UK.
Regarding the Indian variant, Boris Johnson said it was “under very careful, close review”, adding that “we’re looking at all the data as it comes in from places like Bolton, Blackburn, Bedford, Sefton.” After data is studied, they will “let people know in a few days’ time,” the British PM noted, confirming that there was no decisive reason to deviate from the opening plan.
At the same time, the British premier also reiterated the government’s earlier request that people living in the UK should continue to avoid visiting amber list countries on holidays. “And if people do go to an amber list country, they absolutely have to for some pressing family or urgent business reason, then please bear in mind that you will have to self-isolate, you’ll have to take tests and do your passenger locator form and all the rest of it,” Mr Johnson emphasized.
As currnetly almost all EU member states are listed as amber, the UK is still strictly limiting its citizens’ foreign travels.