Today, it is believed that Boris Johnson will announce that museums, galleries and cinemas, alongside pubs, restaurants and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen from 4 July. Tara Pilkington reports.
As lockdown measure ease across England, the news of various non-essential places opening comes following an announcement on Monday which permitted millions of people with underlying health issues will the ability to leave their homes and mix with groups for the first time since the lockdown was introduced.
However, doctors, unions and charities have voiced their concerns over the easing of lockdown measures at this point in time, as well as the plans to halve the 2-metre distancing rule which has been in place since March.
The change has been billed by Downing Street as ultimately a political decision based on balancing health concerns and economic wellbeing.
Later this week, it is expected that ministers will publish a bill setting out ways it can help businesses remain viable. This will focus on ideas such as making it easier for businesses to expand into outdoor seating, and the easing of restrictions on selling food and drink to take away.
