GROUNDS FOR HOPE
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS: BORIS STEPS UP RECOVERY DRIVE » Roadmap to allow fans inside stadiums » Employers wary of end to home working
BORIS Johnson yesterday unveiled the roadmap he hopes will get the country back to normal in time for Christmas.
The Prime Minister announced a raft of changes to the lockdown guidance over the coming months.
The plan includes scrapping advice to work from home, relaxing rules on public transport and allowing fans to return to sporting events for the first time since March.
The PM said it is his “sincere hope that we’ll be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas.”
Announcing the timetable at a Downing Street press conference, he added that he is “hoping for the best and planning for the worst”.
The roadmap will include, from
August 1, people in England no longer being told to work from home if they can. Instead, employers will be allowed to decide whether it is safe.
Mr Johnson said: “It is not for Government to decide how employers should run their companies and whether they want their workforces in the office or not – that is for companies.”
But organisations warned that “significant” caution remains among employees about returning to offices.
The Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has said there is “absolutely no reason” to change advice on home-working. And Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty yesterday cast doubt on the PM’s ambition to relax social distancing rules in November.
He told the Lords Science Committee: “There are issues around distancing, which have been buried. But the reality is distancing remains an important part of this mix and how it’s interpreted in different environments has evolved, but it has not gone away.
“[They] need to continue for a long period of time.”
The TUC said there is much to do before workplaces reopen, including risk assessments and consultations with unions. General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We all want to get the economy up and running as quickly as possible.
“Returns to workplaces must happen in a phased and safe way. The Government is passing the buck on this big decision to employers.”
British Chambers of Commerce director general Adam Marshall said “crystal clear” guidance is needed.
He said other factors such as schools reopening, childcare and the capacity of public transport will all influence decisions on people coming back into workplaces.
Edwin Morgan, director of policy at the Institute of Directors, said: “Directors need to balance the risks, and won’t want to increase the possibility of closures down the line by rushing back.”
He said as many as two-thirds of members have indicated they intend to keep increased flexible working.
The Prime Minister also announced that from today local authorities in
I must say I do think you have to take a pretty sunny view
WALES FIRST MINISTER ON REALITY OF XMAS GOAL
England will be given the power to impose “lightning lockdowns”.
Councils will be allowed to shut down premises or outdoor spaces and cancel events at short notice.
Ministers can close sectors and premises – such as pubs and shops – and issue “stay at home orders” and transport restrictions. The PM said: “These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks where speed is paramount.”
Nightclubs and children’s soft play centres will remain closed.
Fans will be allowed into sporting events from October, subject to tests.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said three pilot events would include the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield on July 31, the Glorious Goodwood horse racing meet and a county cricket match at the Oval.
But five-times snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan threatened to pull out if fans are allowed in, saying it is “insane we’re even talking about it”.
Mr Johnson announced plans to increase antigen testing capacity to 500,000 a day by the end of October, and confirmed an extra £3billion in NHS funding to prepare for a possible
second wave of the virus. Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed the reopening of playgrounds, community centres, funfairs and outdoor gyms in Wales from Monday.
But he warned: “In relation to the Prime Minister’s view everything might be back to normal by Christmas, I must say I do think you have to take a pretty sunny view of circumstances.”
A public health professor has said scrapping social-distancing measures in time for Christmas is an “enthusiastic approach that is premature” as the infection rate is still too high.
Linda Bauld, of Edinburgh University, cited official figures of 1,700 new cases per day in England, warning: “The only way it would be possible to get rid of the one-metre rule is if, over several months, we don’t have any Covid cases around the country.”