1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Politics

UK's Boris Johnson reveals plans to ease virus restrictions

May 11, 2020

The UK prime minister wants those who can't work from home to return to work and also says that from June 1, shops and schools could reopen. His government has been criticized amid suggestions it is too much, too soon.

A family gather around the television to watch Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson give a televised message to the nation
Image: AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the lockdown introduced in March has prevented the loss of half a million lives as he hoped to gradually relax the restrictive measures in the coming weeks.

Johnson made the claim in a televised address to the nation. He also announced the upcoming plans as the UK seeks a way out of the current crisis.

The prime minister said people in Britain who can't work from home, such as those in construction or manufacturing jobs, "should be actively encouraged to go to work” this week.

Read more:British Pakistanis angry about coronavirus repatriation effort

"We will be monitoring the progress we are making. We may be able to go further. On June 1 we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools,” Johnson said in his address.

"At the earliest by July, and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice, we will hope to reopen at least some of the hospitality industry, and other public places, provided they're safe and enforce social distancing.”

From Wednesday, there will be no restrictive measures applied to the amount of exercise that can be done outdoors, Johnson announced. Citizens will also be permitted to sunbathe, drive to other destinations, and play sports with members of their own household.

'A number theater'

Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer was critical of Johnson's new approach, saying it "raises more questions than it answers” and that his speech was "effectively telling millions of people to go back to work without a clear plan for safety.”

Read more: Lessons learned — The eradication of smallpox 40 years ago

Meanwhile, a statistics expert repeatedly cited by the UK government when responding to criticism of its failings amid the coronavirus pandemic, has himself criticized Downing Street's ineffective communications, saying it shows a lack of "respect” for the British public. 

David Spiegelhalter, a professor at Cambridge University, said Westminster's daily briefings were like a "number theater" put together by a public relations team rather than giving citizens crucial information.

Read more: Coronavirus takes tragic toll on UK care homes

"I just wish the data was being presented by people who know its strengths and limitations and could treat the audience with respect," he told the BBC.

AFP contributed to this article.

Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.

John Silk Editor and writer for English news, as well as the Culture and Asia Desks.@JSilk
Skip next section Explore more
Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW