LONDON (AP) – Millions of people in Britain will get their first chance in months to get a haircut, shop and eat at restaurants starting Monday after the government takes the next step in its plan to reduction of confinement.
The nationwide restrictions have been in place in England since January, and similar ones in the rest of the UK, to contain a spike in coronavirus infections that hit the country late last year and was linked to a new and more variant. contagious originally identified in south-east England.
Britain has suffered the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe, with more than 127,000 confirmed deaths from the disease.
Infections, hospitalizations and deaths have decreased thanks to confinement and a large-scale inoculation program in which more than 60% of the adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson and epidemiologists have called for caution, assuring that many people are still unvaccinated and that relaxing the rules of social distancing or allowing vacations abroad this summer could cause a new spike in cases.
“The situation in the UK is clearing up and stabilizing, but people need to remember that that’s not the case elsewhere,” said Peter Horby, who heads the New and Emerging Respiratory Threats Advisory Group, which advises the government. . “The pandemic continues.”
“And many countries, including in Europe, continue to see an increase in cases or have had to re-implement lockdowns. So it is very difficult to predict what will happen in the next couple of months, “he told Times Radio.
Non-essential stores will be allowed to reopen on Monday, as well as beauty shops, gyms and outdoor service in taverns and restaurants.
The prime minister had promised to visit a tavern to have a beer and celebrate the occasion, but postponed his celebration due to the death on Friday of Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Indoor service in bars and restaurants will not be allowed until at least May 17, and theaters, movie theaters, nightclubs and most other establishments will remain closed. Indoor social events remain severely restricted and vacations abroad are prohibited.
The easing of restrictions is good news for the hospitality sales and services businesses, which have experienced several periods of closures in the last year. But there is still a long way to go to return to normality. The Bar and Brewery Association of Great Britain estimates that just 40% of taverns in England have enough space to reopen with outdoor service.
The rules are applicable for England. The other parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – follow their own plans, which are quite similar.
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