Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that reopening schools and reuniting loved ones will be prioritised in England’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Boris Johnson will chair a virtual meeting of the Cabinet this morning to discuss the roadmap, and then reveal the details to Parliament in the afternoon. The PM is due to host a Downing Street press conference on Monday evening to address the nation.
The road map is set to include:
Ahead of his Commons speech, Mr Johnson said: “Today I’ll be setting out a road map to bring us out of lockdown cautiously.
Our priority has always been getting children back into school which we know is crucial for their education as well as their mental and physical wellbeing, and we will also be prioritising ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely. Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step, and we will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe. We have therefore set four key tests which must be met before we can move through each step of the plan.”
Four tests for easing measures will be used, with the Government due to evaluate the data at each stage before relaxing restrictions further. These tests include examining the vaccine rollout success, vaccine efficacy, new variants and infection rates. Restrictions will be relaxed step-by-step across England at the same time, Downing Street said, signalling the end of the tier system.
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