By Public warned not to expect big lockdown changes
The public are being warned not to expect big changes to lockdown measures ahead of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s speech to the nation this coming Sunday.
It is widely thought that the lockdown will be phased out using a controlled and staggered approach, which will involve people being permitted to visit their friends and families first, before re-opening public spaces at a later date.
However, according to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, we can expect the speech to set out a “cautious” road map for the UK, rather than immediate alterations.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added that any immediate alterations made to the current lockdown measures will be “modest.”
This comes amid growing concerns that talks of easing lockdown measures are leading to mixed messages among the British public.
Both the Welsh and Scottish governments have accused No 10 of sending “mixed messages” about the lockdown, and as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to make their own decisions on lockdown regulations, Scotland have now officially extended their lockdown measures.
Wales have yet to announce their plans, and Northern Ireland have no plans to relax their lockdown measures yet.
Mr Dowden said Mr Johnson’s speech would cautiously begin to look to the future, with limited amendments to restrictions to begin with.
“On Sunday, what the prime minister will do is set out the road map ahead,” he said.
“So we can start to look to the future, but we’ll have to do so in a very tentative and cautious way. People should not expect big changes from the prime minister on Sunday.
“But what they should expect, and this is what people have been asking for some time, tell us where we’re going. Give us a road map ahead. And that is what the prime minister will do.
“The worst thing that could happen is that after the huge effort we’ve all put in… we don’t want to have a second peak that overwhelms the NHS.”
One message which is clear, is that people should continue obeying the coronavirus lockdown this bank holiday weekend, as lockdown rules are very much still in force.
Mr Johnson will address the nation about the lockdown at 19:00 BST on Sunday.
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