Restrictions will be restricted in accordance with the government plan, as vaccinations reduce cases.
England will move forward with plans to ease other restrictions on COVID-19 on May 17, including those that allow people to hug and gather indoors, thanks to favorable data on infections and vaccines, he said on Sunday. government.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a press conference on Monday afternoon to announce details of the third step on the UK’s “roadmap” to exit the crisis, following talks with colleagues and advisers in the morning.
“The data reflects what we already knew: we will not let this virus win us over,” Johnson said, according to a Downing Street statement.
“The roadmap is on the right track, our successful vaccination program continues (more than two-thirds of adults in the UK have already had their first vaccine) and we can now expect to unlock it with caution but irreversibly.”
The country is in the process of gradually lifting its latest blockade over a period of months, according to a four-step plan presented in February.
It took his first closing step in April when hairdressers and shops were reopened and people were allowed to dine outside in small groups.
In the next step, food and drink will also be allowed indoors in pubs, cafes and restaurants, according to certain rules, while family and friends will be able to gather indoors for the first time in a month, in groups of up to six people. people or two complete households together.
Johnson is also expected to say people can embrace friends and family away from home for the first time in more than a year, according to the Times.
Cinemas and theaters will also reopen, as will some other large indoor spaces after the government held several pilot events to test security measures. Hotels can also accommodate guests.
On Sunday, the UK announced a total of 1,770 new cases of coronavirus and two deaths, well below the peaks seen in January.
More than 127,000 people have died from coronavirus in the UK the highest toll in Europe.
Downing Street said the latest data on COVID-19 vaccinations, infections, hospitalizations and deaths, as well as on risk posed by new variants had been taken into account in deciding to move forward.
Semi-autonomous administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own timetable for easing coronavirus restrictions.
The UK government had already confirmed last week that international travel would be allowed to resume on May 17, but severe restrictions will remain for all but a handful of countries.
