Home Business News Boris Johnson is planning to end the lockdown and reopen the economy

Boris Johnson is planning to end the lockdown and reopen the economy

5th Feb 21 11:39 am

The Prime Minister wants all over 50s are to be vaccinated by “the end of spring” which will allow the current third lockdown to end April, according to reports.

Details spotted in a government document shows Boris Johnson’s plans to end the current lockdown by April, and also confirms their intention for local elections to take place on 6 May.

A document published on Friday states, “The UK’s vaccination programme is planned to have reached all nine priority cohorts by May, meaning that the Government can commit to go ahead with these polls with confidence – and maintain the choice for voters between voting in person or remotely.”

Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith said, “As the government rolls out the vaccine to the most vulnerable, we will be able to leave lockdown and open our country up safely again.

“We will work with political parties to ensure that these important elections are free and fair.”

This comes as Johnson is looking to possibly start easing the lockdown across England from March, and will set out his roadmap to exit the third lockdown from 22 February.

Professor Andrew Hayward, who sits of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said on Thursday, that the UK could see “a significant return to normality” once all over-50s have had their dose of the vaccine.

He added, “The fact coronavirus is a seasonal disease, I think will make a big difference and allow us to open up.

“I think what we’ll see is a phased opening up as the vaccination levels increase, and then we will be more or less back to normal for the summer, I would imagine.”

A Whitehall source told the Mail Online, “If the vaccine programme goes the way we think it will go, then you will start to see quite a quick return to normal in April and May.”

Team and individual sports, such as Tennis, with limited social gatherings to possible be allowed outside, with pupils going back to school on 8 March, The Times reported.

Al fresco drinking and dining will be allowed before eating indoors, with outside markets set to return.

However, the plans are “tentative” and the earliest date pupils can go back to the classroom has been agreed, government sources warned.

A government source told The Sun newspaper that some Whitehall officials have called for the return of non-essential shops to reopen as “it wouldn’t just boost the economy, it would help peoples mental health too.”

The government source added, “People are getting fed up at not being able to go for a haircut. It is about improving how people feel about themselves.

“It would be good for the high street, of course. But it will also be good for people’s wellbeing.”

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