The UK is set to experience a semblance of normalcy this summer. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday June 23 a major step in deconfinement on July 4 with the reopening of pubs, restaurants, hotels, museums and hairdressers.
While much of Europe has now lifted most of the containment measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the British government has so far taken small steps to revive a very weak economy. With more than 42,000 deaths tested positive and even more than 52,000 including suspected cases, the country deplores the heaviest toll of the Covid-19 disease in Europe.
But encouraged by the progress made to fight the virus, the head of the Conservative government detailed in Parliament the next phase of deconfinement. The four nations of the United Kingdom (Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland) have been subject to containment since the end of March, but each follows their own roadmap for easing restrictions.
"Difficult decisions"
"After imposing the toughest restrictions in peacetime, we are now able to make life easier. Our long national hibernation is coming to an end. (…) We do not believe there is currently a risk of a second wave of infections that could overwhelm the health service. "
However, this decision is "Reversible", he warned. To allow the restart of the hotel and catering and tourism sectors in England for the summer, the head of government said that the recommended distance between two people would be reduced to one meter, against two currently; a controversial issue that has been debating for weeks.
"We cannot lift all restrictions at the same time, so we have to make tough decisions"said the Prime Minister, saying he counted on the " common sense " of the British. Among the businesses that will be able to reopen are hairdressers and pubs. "A haircut is expected with almost as much impatience as a pint, especially by me", said the conservative leader, known for his blond mop.
From July 4, members of two different households can meet indoors. They can now only do so in private parks or gardens. Museums, galleries, play areas, libraries and community centers will reopen in July. However, nightclubs, gyms, swimming pools and spas remain closed, as well as performance halls.
"We will work with the arts industry on specific recommendations to allow choirs, orchestras and theaters to resume performances as soon as possible"added Mr. Johnson. Stressing that "The virus has not disappeared", he called on his compatriots to "Stay alert".
Quarantine
The new phase scheduled for early July is however delicate for the government. Much criticized for having delayed acting on the epidemic, the government of Boris Johnson saw its strategy of deconfinement known to several failures. The instructions were sometimes considered fuzzy or illogical, the schools could not reopen as much as planned before the summer and the government had to abandon its project of tracing patients, supposed to be an essential tool accompanying deconfinement, in favor of another model without any timetable being given.
If the measures announced Tuesday should allow a revival of tourism within the British territory, the question of stays abroad remains pending. To avoid importing cases of Covid-19 at the time of deconfinement, the government introduced a quarantine of 14 days for any traveler arriving from abroad on June 8, angering the airline industry. According to Times, it is preparing to exempt a dozen countries from this measure, such as France, Spain, Italy or Turkey, to allow the British to go abroad during the summer holidays.
