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| UK coronavirus live: pubs and hair salons reopen in England as lockdown eases - latest updates | UK coronavirus live: pubs and hair salons reopen in England as lockdown eases - latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s coronavirus news as the easing of lockdown measures in England also reopens restaurants, theme parks, galleries, hotels, cinemas and bingo halls | Follow all the day’s coronavirus news as the easing of lockdown measures in England also reopens restaurants, theme parks, galleries, hotels, cinemas and bingo halls |
| The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has welcomed the reopening of pubs and implored the public to “eat out to help out” the hospitality industry. | |
| In an interview with the Times (paywall), the chancellor said Britain needed to get spending in pubs and restaurants again to avoid a jobs meltdown that could see a generation of young people being “lost” to the coronavirus. Sunak said it was the nation’s duty to “relearn what it’s like to go out again”. | |
| He said: | |
| His sentiments echoed those of the prime minister, who on Friday said the “economic health of the whole country” depended on consumers acting responsibly in successfully reopening the economy. | |
| PA Media reports that Sunak said: | |
| Regulars have returned for much-anticipated drinks at the Toll Gate Wetherspoons pub in Turnpike Lane, north London, PA Media repors. | |
| Andrew Slawinski, 54, who bought a Guinness, described his first pub pint in three months as “gorgeous”. “It’s like winning the [Premier] League,” he said. | |
| A range of measures have been implemented at the pub including contact tracing forms, Perspex screens and compulsory table service. | |
| And the BBC’s Chris Mason, whose locks once made the Grazia UK chart of lust, is finally getting his hair chopped live. | |
| This is from the BBC’s Jayne McCubbin who was up with the crows to be one of the first people in England to secure a months-awaited trim. | |
| An irresponsibly boozy Saturday could overwhelm A&E services in England, the British Medical Association has warned. | |
| In an interview with the Daily Telegraph (paywall) and speaking to BBC Breakfast, Simon Walsh, the BMA’s emergency medicine lead, reminded the public to act responsibly as pubs, restaurants and bars reopen today. | |
| Health chiefs are fearful as casualty departments have been redesigned to segregate patients, and so could not cope with a sudden surge in demand in people overdo their celebrations. | |
| This is from the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, urging people to support local businesses as lockdown is eased today, but to do safely by practising physical distancing, avoiding public transport and wearing a face covering. | |
| While driving instructors in England can resume business today, tests will be prioritised for those whose tests were cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, my colleague Amy Walker reports. | While driving instructors in England can resume business today, tests will be prioritised for those whose tests were cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, my colleague Amy Walker reports. |
| The Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) said that from 6 July, cancelled tests would be rescheduled for essential workers. Non-critical workers who had booked a test will be contacted by the DVSA to rebook from 22 July, although exams may not resume until August, meaning learner drivers face a huge backlog before they can book their practical test. | The Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) said that from 6 July, cancelled tests would be rescheduled for essential workers. Non-critical workers who had booked a test will be contacted by the DVSA to rebook from 22 July, although exams may not resume until August, meaning learner drivers face a huge backlog before they can book their practical test. |
| The easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions across England will lead to some “decompression” and “overdoing it” by a minority of young people, a police and crime commissioner has said. | The easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions across England will lead to some “decompression” and “overdoing it” by a minority of young people, a police and crime commissioner has said. |
| Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s Conservative police and crime commissioner, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: | Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s Conservative police and crime commissioner, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: |
| An update from Rob, who is at the Moon Under Water pub in north London. | An update from Rob, who is at the Moon Under Water pub in north London. |
| By 9am, about 30 people have come through the door and most have stayed. Some wear masks but most do not. Staff are in good spirits but there is wariness about what’s to come this evening. | |
| The pub is back but it’s going to be a while before normality returns. | The pub is back but it’s going to be a while before normality returns. |
| Some couples also have not wasted any time before saying “I do” and two key workers got married just moments after the restrictions lifted, PA Media reports. | Some couples also have not wasted any time before saying “I do” and two key workers got married just moments after the restrictions lifted, PA Media reports. |
| Care home worker Jennifer Wilson and security guard Louise Arnold, both 22, married at the Peace Garden Pergola in the grounds of Runcorn Town Hall, Cheshire, in what was thought to be the first wedding after the updated Covid-19 guidelines came into force. | Care home worker Jennifer Wilson and security guard Louise Arnold, both 22, married at the Peace Garden Pergola in the grounds of Runcorn Town Hall, Cheshire, in what was thought to be the first wedding after the updated Covid-19 guidelines came into force. |
| Wilson told PA: | Wilson told PA: |
| Arnold, who works for lorry firm Eddie Stobart, added: | Arnold, who works for lorry firm Eddie Stobart, added: |
| The Moon Under Water, a Wetherspoons pub in Colindale, North West London, might just be the first pub in London, if not the UK, to serve a pint since mid-March. | The Moon Under Water, a Wetherspoons pub in Colindale, North West London, might just be the first pub in London, if not the UK, to serve a pint since mid-March. |
| At 8am, there is no queue but it doesn’t take long for a few early-morning punters to start filtering in. | At 8am, there is no queue but it doesn’t take long for a few early-morning punters to start filtering in. |
| On arrival, they’re asked to fill out an NHS Test and Trace form. Markers on the floor show where to stand and there are Perspex screens at the tills to protect staff and customers, as well as hand sanitiser dispensers everywhere. | On arrival, they’re asked to fill out an NHS Test and Trace form. Markers on the floor show where to stand and there are Perspex screens at the tills to protect staff and customers, as well as hand sanitiser dispensers everywhere. |
| Patrons are encouraged to use the Wetherspoons app to order but you can get served at the bar the old-fashioned way. | Patrons are encouraged to use the Wetherspoons app to order but you can get served at the bar the old-fashioned way. |
| Stephen Barrie, 56, a semi-retired binman, is the proud owner of the pub’s first pint of the day, a Bud Light poured shortly after 8am. | Stephen Barrie, 56, a semi-retired binman, is the proud owner of the pub’s first pint of the day, a Bud Light poured shortly after 8am. |
| “I thought there’d be a queue but was the first in the door,” he said. | “I thought there’d be a queue but was the first in the door,” he said. |
| During the pandemic, he bought beer at the supermarket but says “it wasn’t the same”. | During the pandemic, he bought beer at the supermarket but says “it wasn’t the same”. |
| Krzystof Stankiewicz, 40, is a minicab driver at the end of a night shift. | Krzystof Stankiewicz, 40, is a minicab driver at the end of a night shift. |
| “I’ve been waiting for this for three months,” he says. | “I’ve been waiting for this for three months,” he says. |
| Joe Fay, 20 and Sean Scanlon, 20, both work in the building trade. They’re sitting in the back of the pub, where perspex screens divide the tables. | Joe Fay, 20 and Sean Scanlon, 20, both work in the building trade. They’re sitting in the back of the pub, where perspex screens divide the tables. |
| Neither of them are too worried about catching coronavirus in the pub. | Neither of them are too worried about catching coronavirus in the pub. |
| “It’s everywhere and you can’t stop everything,” says Joe. | “It’s everywhere and you can’t stop everything,” says Joe. |
| Good morning everyone! I’m Lucy Campbell, here to take you through all the latest coronavirus news throughout the day, as lockdown restrictions in England are significantly eased today. | Good morning everyone! I’m Lucy Campbell, here to take you through all the latest coronavirus news throughout the day, as lockdown restrictions in England are significantly eased today. |
| From 6am this morning people in England have been able to tie the knot, head to their local pub for a long-awaited pint or get their lockdown mops trimmed at the hairdressers under modified physical distancing conditions, three months after the lockdown closed the doors of pubs, restaurants and hair salons. The major easing of lockdown measures will also see the reopening of theme parks, galleries, hotels, barbers, cinemas and bingo halls. | From 6am this morning people in England have been able to tie the knot, head to their local pub for a long-awaited pint or get their lockdown mops trimmed at the hairdressers under modified physical distancing conditions, three months after the lockdown closed the doors of pubs, restaurants and hair salons. The major easing of lockdown measures will also see the reopening of theme parks, galleries, hotels, barbers, cinemas and bingo halls. |
| The prime minister urged the public to head out today to support these businesses, whose workers and their livelihoods depend on the economy getting moving again. Boris Johnson warned people not to get carried away, however. | The prime minister urged the public to head out today to support these businesses, whose workers and their livelihoods depend on the economy getting moving again. Boris Johnson warned people not to get carried away, however. |
| At a press conference on Friday, the PM asked the public not to “blow” the progress England has made and deployed the government’s new slogan of “enjoy summer safely”. He said: | At a press conference on Friday, the PM asked the public not to “blow” the progress England has made and deployed the government’s new slogan of “enjoy summer safely”. He said: |
| England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said the pandemic “is a long way from gone” as he urged the public to follow social distancing rules as guidance is eased. | England’s chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said the pandemic “is a long way from gone” as he urged the public to follow social distancing rules as guidance is eased. |
| Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, also warned of the danger of the “superspreading” of Covid-19 occurring in pubs. | Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, also warned of the danger of the “superspreading” of Covid-19 occurring in pubs. |
| Whitty told the conference: | Whitty told the conference: |
| Though physical distancing advice isn’t written into law, the government is strongly urging people to stick to the 1-metre plus rule, wear face masks, sit side by side rather than opposite, and wash hands regularly. There doesn’t seem to be any legal requirement to provide names and contact details to venue owners when you visit (for contact tracing purposes), though some establishments are actively encouraging this. | Though physical distancing advice isn’t written into law, the government is strongly urging people to stick to the 1-metre plus rule, wear face masks, sit side by side rather than opposite, and wash hands regularly. There doesn’t seem to be any legal requirement to provide names and contact details to venue owners when you visit (for contact tracing purposes), though some establishments are actively encouraging this. |
| Also as of today, people in England can meet in groups of up to 30 people, indoors or outdoors, and overnight stays are now permitted, providing physical distancing is maintained. Weddings of up to 30 guests can also go ahead. | Also as of today, people in England can meet in groups of up to 30 people, indoors or outdoors, and overnight stays are now permitted, providing physical distancing is maintained. Weddings of up to 30 guests can also go ahead. |
| We’ll be keeping a close eye on how the day unfolds. With cold weather and drizzle predicted, how far will people hold back or venture out to some degree of a return to “normal life”? | We’ll be keeping a close eye on how the day unfolds. With cold weather and drizzle predicted, how far will people hold back or venture out to some degree of a return to “normal life”? |
| Please feel free to get in touch with me throughout the day as I work to share tips, and do send in pictures and your own experiences if you venture out to do any of the above – and do be safe! | Please feel free to get in touch with me throughout the day as I work to share tips, and do send in pictures and your own experiences if you venture out to do any of the above – and do be safe! |
| Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_ | Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.comTwitter: @lucy_campbell_ |