British Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed on Sunday that deconfinement will not begin until June 1.
- The British will remain entrusted until June 1
- The country is the 2nd most affected by the epidemic with more than 31,850 deaths
- A quarantine could be put in place for those who want to enter the UK but the French would be exempt
As France begins its deconfinement this Monday, May 11, the English calendar is set on the date of 1er June. This was revealed by Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, this Sunday, adding that he wanted to deconfine in stages with a new alert system which will keep the population informed of the level of danger of the pandemic. The United Kingdom is officially the second most affected country by the Covid-19 pandemic with 31,855 deaths in the country.
An important update to the nation on coronavirus: https://t.co/tRvIjJLrCu
—Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) May 10, 2020
Mandatory quarantine for visitors, except for the French
For the moment, the conditions are not met in England to start an exit from confinement. “At the moment we believe the country is at 4 on a scale of 5, with 5 being the most concerning level and we want to bring it down to 3 as quickly as possible.”, described the Minister for Communities, Robert Jenrick, on Sky News on Sunday. Once this level is reached, shops and primary schools are expected to gradually reopen, followed by some bars and restaurants in early July.
The British Prime Minister has also indicated his desire to establish “a quarantine for people who enter this country by plane”. A measure that will not apply to French travelers, he added, following a call between Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson on the subject. “The President of the Republic and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke today. They insisted on the need for close bilateral, European and international cooperation in the fight against Covid-19writes the Élysée in a communicated. No quarantine measures will apply to travelers from France at this stage; any action on either side would be taken in a concerted and reciprocal manner.”
“Stay alert”
The communication of the British government took a turn this Sunday when the “stay alert” replaced the “stay at home”. Initial relaxation measures have been put in place, including the reopening of garden shops and the possibility of going out to exercise more than once a day. However, the Prime Minister does not want to miss this exit from confinement which he considers to be the most delicate. “Climbers always say that descending from the summit is the most dangerous part. This is when you risk being overconfident and making mistakes”, he imagined in his speech. Depending on the evolution of the virus, specific measures may be put in place in certain regions.
Everyone has a role to play in helping to control the virus by staying alert and following the rules.
This is how we can continue to save lives as we start to recover from coronavirus.#StayAlert pic.twitter.com/2z9yl1Fxs4
—Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) May 10, 2020
Boris Johnson also indicated that these measures only concern England and that each of the other constituent nations of the United Kingdom will have to determine their deconfinement strategy. “Given the critical moment we find ourselves in in the fight against the virus, ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’ remains my clear message to Scotland for now.”replied on Twitter the Scottish Prime Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
STAY-HOME. PROTECT THE NHS. SAVE LIVES.
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 10, 2020
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