Grandparents could be able to hug their grandkids from next month under Boris Johnson’s new lockdown plan
DESPERATE grandparents could be able to hug their grandkids from next month after weeks apart.
Government scientists are working on plans to allow over-70s to see members of another household.
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Boris Johnson today published a Covid-19 “unlockdown” roadmap, including social distancing at work.
The long-awaited roadmap also said government scientific advisers will look at whether it could be safe to allow people to link up with one other household in a so-called “double bubble”.
The plan offers a glimmer of hope for families, friends and couples who have been separated for seven weeks.
Government scientists are also looking at including grandparents over 70 — currently urged to stay indoors — in the new rules.
But the proposal will first have to be deemed safe by the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.
The plans were published in the Government’s “recovery strategy” document.
The PM declared he was putting his faith in “good solid, British common sense”.
In other measures announced:
- Brits might be able to get a haircut in July with the potential reopening of beauty salons, restaurants and hotels;
- Busier indoor places like gyms, nightclubs, sports stadiums and normally crowded bars could remain closed into next year;
- People living in England will be allowed to drive to outdoor spaces “irrespective of distance” from tomorrow — but must not cross the border into Wales or Scotland, where the stricter lockdown measures remain in place;
- Cultural and sporting events, such as Premier League football and Formula One, will have to take place behind closed doors until a vaccine is found.
In a foreword, Mr Johnson called the 50-page roadmap “a plan to rebuild the UK for a world with Covid-19”, as he warned there would be “no quick return to normality”.
He added: “Nor does it lay out an easy answer. But it is a plan that should give the people of the United Kingdom hope — hope that we can rebuild, hope that we can save lives, hope that we can safeguard livelihoods.
“It will require much from us all: that we remain alert; that we care for those at most risk; that we pull together as a United Kingdom.”
The document sets out a rough timeline for a gradual reopening of society in three steps.
Step 1 started today with changes to unlimited exercises.
Garden centres will open on Wednesday. Non-contact sports such as tennis, golf and angling will be allowed.
People can play only with those in their own household or one other person and must keep two metres apart.
'DOUBLE BUBBLE'
Basketball courts can open but people will be allowed to play team sports only with fellow household members.
And it will be possible to meet one other person from another household in an outdoor space as long as they keep two metres apart.
Speaking in the Commons today, Mr Johnson said: “You can now walk, sit and rest in parks.”
Step 2 from June 1 could see households choosing one other group to include in their “double bubble”.
The move — aimed at limiting the risk of inter-household transmissions of the virus — could also help families return to work by two households sharing childcare.
Government scientific advisers said the “bubbles” could include the over-70s, despite this age group being in the “clinically vulnerable” category.
But the plan would not apply to around 2.5 million in the “clinically extremely vulnerable group” who have cancer or other illnesses — many of whom are aged over 70.
They are “strongly advised to stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact” — known as “shielding”.
The Government’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty said: “We are looking at how to balance those risks in terms of households who are over 70s.”
Primary school children could also start returning to school. But again the moves have to be deemed deemed safe by SAGE.
Step 3 from July 4 could see hairdressers able to open alongside beauty salons, restaurants, hotels, bigger cinemas and some pubs — as long as they keep customers two metres apart.
But busier places like gyms, nightclubs, sports arenas and crowded bars could remain closed into next year.
The roadmap said “venues that attract large crowds” will have to stay shut until “significantly later” as the risk of the virus spreading fast inside them is very high.
Ministers will allow “cultural and sporting events” to take place behind closed doors — to be shown on TV from June onwards - heralding the return of the Premier League and Formula One.
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The PM told MPs the return of major sport “will provide a much- needed boost to morale”.
The Government document also stated that the over-70s and pregnant women “should continue to take particular care” and keep contact with others to a minimum.
Visits to holiday homes are still banned, No10 said — in a reminder ahead of the next May bank holiday and the half-term break.
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