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Covid: England lockdown easing still on course, says PM | Covid: England lockdown easing still on course, says PM |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The prime minister says he's forward to a haircut and a pint in a video filmed and broadcast by the Conservative Party | |
Boris Johnson has said the roadmap for easing England's coronavirus lockdown is still on track, even as a third wave of infections hits Europe. | Boris Johnson has said the roadmap for easing England's coronavirus lockdown is still on track, even as a third wave of infections hits Europe. |
The PM said he will soon "be able to go to the barbers" and eventually "drink a pint... in the pub". | The PM said he will soon "be able to go to the barbers" and eventually "drink a pint... in the pub". |
Outdoor gatherings are allowed from Monday, with more restrictions due to be eased on 12 April. | Outdoor gatherings are allowed from Monday, with more restrictions due to be eased on 12 April. |
Mr Johnson added that nothing in the data dissuaded him "from continuing along our roadmap to freedom". | Mr Johnson added that nothing in the data dissuaded him "from continuing along our roadmap to freedom". |
Speaking to the Conservatives' virtual spring forum, Mr Johnson said: "In just a few days' time, I'm finally going to be able to go to the barbers. | |
"But more important than that, I'm going to be able to go down the street and cautiously, but irreversibly, I'm going to drink a pint of beer in the pub. | "But more important than that, I'm going to be able to go down the street and cautiously, but irreversibly, I'm going to drink a pint of beer in the pub. |
"And as things stand, I can see absolutely nothing in the data to dissuade me from continuing along our roadmap to freedom, unlocking our economy and getting back to the life we love." | "And as things stand, I can see absolutely nothing in the data to dissuade me from continuing along our roadmap to freedom, unlocking our economy and getting back to the life we love." |
From Monday, people will be allowed to meet outside - including in private gardens - in groups of up to six, or as two households. | From Monday, people will be allowed to meet outside - including in private gardens - in groups of up to six, or as two households. |
Shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality venues are due to reopen on 12 April. | Shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality venues are due to reopen on 12 April. |
Meanwhile, Wales has become the first UK nation to suspend travel restrictions within its borders, allowing families to meet for the first time in months. | Meanwhile, Wales has become the first UK nation to suspend travel restrictions within its borders, allowing families to meet for the first time in months. |
When will I get the Covid vaccine? | When will I get the Covid vaccine? |
PM: Covid third wave will 'wash up on our shores' | PM: Covid third wave will 'wash up on our shores' |
UK considering tougher measures on France arrivals | UK considering tougher measures on France arrivals |
Mr Johnson said it was as yet unclear what impact a rising wave of infections on the continent might have on the UK, with "bitter experience" showing it could take three weeks to show up here. | Mr Johnson said it was as yet unclear what impact a rising wave of infections on the continent might have on the UK, with "bitter experience" showing it could take three weeks to show up here. |
He added: "The question is - is it going to be, this time, as bad it has been in the past? Or have we sufficiently mitigated, muffled, blunted impact by the vaccine rollout? | He added: "The question is - is it going to be, this time, as bad it has been in the past? Or have we sufficiently mitigated, muffled, blunted impact by the vaccine rollout? |
"That's a question we still don't really know the answer to." | "That's a question we still don't really know the answer to." |
Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds has said Mr Johnson risked being "complacent about the threat of a third wave" and called for a more comprehensive hotel quarantine system for international arrivals. | |
Booster jabs | Booster jabs |
It came as Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said people aged over 70 could start receiving Covid booster jabs from September to protect them from new variants. | It came as Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said people aged over 70 could start receiving Covid booster jabs from September to protect them from new variants. |
Mr Zahawi told the Daily Telegraph that deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam thought "that if we are going to see a requirement for a booster jab to protect the most vulnerable, [it] would be around September". | Mr Zahawi told the Daily Telegraph that deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam thought "that if we are going to see a requirement for a booster jab to protect the most vulnerable, [it] would be around September". |
Those first booster jabs would be given to those in the top four priority groups of the vaccine rollout. | Those first booster jabs would be given to those in the top four priority groups of the vaccine rollout. |
Mr Zahawi also confirmed drive-thru vaccine sites are being considered to persuade younger people to take a Covid jab - as a scientist who advises the government said forcing pub-goers to provide a vaccine certificate might be "counterproductive". | Mr Zahawi also confirmed drive-thru vaccine sites are being considered to persuade younger people to take a Covid jab - as a scientist who advises the government said forcing pub-goers to provide a vaccine certificate might be "counterproductive". |
Prof Stephen Reicher, who advises the government, said the idea risked making vaccine hesitancy worse. | Prof Stephen Reicher, who advises the government, said the idea risked making vaccine hesitancy worse. |
FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one? | FACE MASKS: When do I need to wear one? |
SCHOOLS: What will happen if children catch coronavirus? | SCHOOLS: What will happen if children catch coronavirus? |
TESTING: What tests are available? | TESTING: What tests are available? |
JOBS: How will I be kept safe at work? | JOBS: How will I be kept safe at work? |
Mr Zahawi also told the Telegraph that the government was hoping to have up to eight vaccines available by the autumn - with several made in the UK - including one that could guard against three different variants via a single jab. | Mr Zahawi also told the Telegraph that the government was hoping to have up to eight vaccines available by the autumn - with several made in the UK - including one that could guard against three different variants via a single jab. |
The UK is currently using two vaccines - developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech - to protect people against Covid-19. A third - the Moderna vaccine - has been approved by the UK's medicines watchdog. | The UK is currently using two vaccines - developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech - to protect people against Covid-19. A third - the Moderna vaccine - has been approved by the UK's medicines watchdog. |
All have been shown to be effective at preventing people from becoming seriously ill and dying from Covid. | All have been shown to be effective at preventing people from becoming seriously ill and dying from Covid. |
The Oxford vaccine offers a good level of protection against the "Kent" variant now dominant in the UK. Early research on other vaccines, including Pfizer, suggest they also protect against this variant. | The Oxford vaccine offers a good level of protection against the "Kent" variant now dominant in the UK. Early research on other vaccines, including Pfizer, suggest they also protect against this variant. |
There are concerns vaccines may not work as well against variants first spotted in South Africa and Brazil, and some UK variants too, but they can be updated. | There are concerns vaccines may not work as well against variants first spotted in South Africa and Brazil, and some UK variants too, but they can be updated. |
Why do new variants of Covid-19 keep appearing? Laura Foster explains | Why do new variants of Covid-19 keep appearing? Laura Foster explains |
The government's latest vaccination figures show that more than 29 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, with more than three million of them having had a second dose. | The government's latest vaccination figures show that more than 29 million people in the UK have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, with more than three million of them having had a second dose. |
Despite ministers warning that the UK's vaccine supplies would fall in April, No 10 said all adults in the UK will still receive a first Covid jab by the end of July. | Despite ministers warning that the UK's vaccine supplies would fall in April, No 10 said all adults in the UK will still receive a first Covid jab by the end of July. |
UNDERCOVER OAP: An 83-year-old widower becomes a spy for an undercover operation | UNDERCOVER OAP: An 83-year-old widower becomes a spy for an undercover operation |
TAKING ON THE COVID SCAMMERS: "Scammers target world events and take advantage of people's fears" | TAKING ON THE COVID SCAMMERS: "Scammers target world events and take advantage of people's fears" |