Boris Johnson will tell Brits to go back to work from next month as he rips up stay-at-home guidance
BORIS Johnson is poised to rip-up the work-from-home guidance on Friday - giving bosses the green light to welcome staff back to the office.
He is planning to hold a Downing Street press conference to tell millions of Brits that it will be safe to return to the office next month.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The PM is expected to appear alongside the Test and Trace chief Baroness Dido Harding to unveil a new 'Contain Framework' designed to prove to anxious workers that the virus is “under control” in their local areas.
The pair will also flesh out the Government’s ‘whack-a-mole’ strategy spelling out extra measures to stop outbreaks over the coming months - which they hope will give people the reassurance they need to venture back to the office and onto buses and trains.
The move will finally end the blanket work-from-home policy that has seen the vast majority of Brits shut out of the office for more than four months.
The PM will also relax guidance on the use of public transport - allowing people to start commuting to work again in August.
'GENTLY EASED' BACK
The announcements will give bosses more leeway to ask their staff to return to the office, but will stop short of allowing them to order them back in.
People will be “gently eased” back on to public transport with a new messaging campaign.
Officials are still drawing up the final details but ministers are set to sign off on a “grading” system which will outline times in the day when it is safe to travel.
The public will be advised to still avoid using public transport during peak rush hour times of 7-9am, which will still be categorised as “essential travel only”.
Instead the public will be told to use public transport outside of rush hours - between 9am and 4pm and after 8pm and encouraged to walk and cycle if at all possible during peak times.
A Whitehall source said: “We are looking at the messaging - it will look at grading the times people travel.
“There is a lot of extra capacity on public transport that is not being used.
“People will be told that if you avoid the rush hour, the crush times, it is safe to travel.
“The final messaging is still being worked on - but there is generally recognition that we have got to get people back onto public transport.
“The message will encourage the public to use the networks a little more, the blanket ban will go and will be replaced with a nuanced system."
People will be told that if you avoid the rush hour, the crush times, it is safe to travel.
The government is looking at easing people back during August, when there is usually more capacity on the network as people are on holiday.
The source added: “The general feeling is to do it at this time of year because the summer is normally quieter, and given that there aren’t tourists around, people can build confidence slowly and cautiously.”
The PM will also reveal a cash boost for the Nightingale hospitals to help bolster NHS bed numbers this winter.
Officials are confident the plan is enough to keep the crucial R number below one.
A Government source said: “The key message to the public is that we now have the virus under control, and where there are local outbreaks we can act quickly to stop the virus spreading.
“It is safe to open up the economy in a much bigger way.
“The public will be told that it is fine to go back to work, shops, and eat out in restaurants, pubs and cafes, as long as they socially distance and wear a mask if needed.
“Test and Trace is capable of putting out local fires.”
The announcement will add a long-term aspect to the Government’s roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions.
The PM is expected to set out how he wants to see the economy and society slowly adapt back to some form of normality over the next three to six months.
Most read in News
And it marks the latest attempt by the Government to rescue Britain’s coronavirus-ravaged economy.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
There is growing concern of a collapse of city-centre economies because of the lack of people working in offices.
The PM himself is said to be concerned of “apocalyptic scenes” in city centres amid fears the coronavirus crisis will cause a “polo mint recession” where the suburbs are busy while centres are hollowed out.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun’s Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain’s best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day – .
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]