Boris Johnson yesterday unveiled his 118-day roadmap out of the Coronavirus lockdown by June 21 in England as part of a four-stage plan.
1. Let’s know Tories ‘plan:
- In the first phase, all pupils in England’s schools are expected to return to class from March 8.
- From April 12, shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens will reopen.
- By May 17, two households or groups of up to six people will be allowed to mix indoors and crowds of up to 10,000 in the largest venues will be allowed at performances and sporting events.
- And from June 21, all remaining restrictions on social contact could be lifted, larger events can go ahead and nightclubs could reopen.
2. What SAGE advisers suggest:
- Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies warned No10 there would be at least another 30,000 corona virus deaths in even the ‘most optimistic’ case – and possibly 91,000 caused by a dramatic spike in cases following a rapid easing of lockdown in April.
3. Unions slam ‘reckless’ rush for full school reopening, warning PM has failed to ensure safety:
- General union GMB, which represents more than 100,000 school workers, has demanded risk assessments, funding and vaccinations to open schools safely and control infection rates.
- National Education Union (NEU) joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said the PM’s announcement “demonstrates again that he has, despite all his words of caution, failed to learn the lessons of his previous mistakes.” She said: “A ‘big bang’ school reopening brings 10 million people back into crowded buildings with no social distancing and inadequate ventilation.”
- Bus drivers’ union RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “High infection rates, new variants of Covid-19, combined with a mass return to school and poor enforcement of face mask-wearing and social distancing could represent a cocktail of dangers and greater risks for our drivers.”
4. Labour supports school reopening with warning:
- Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he would like to see all children back at school from next month, but admits that things will need to move forward “carefully”.
- “Ideally I’d like to see all schools back open on 8 March and all children back in schools on 8 March. But PM should listen to his scientific advisers and not Tory lockdown skeptics when deciding on the next steps. If he does not, we will waste all the sacrifices of the last 12 months,” he warned.
