Live updates as Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds Downing Street press conference to ease lockdown restrictions
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce the further easing of lockdown restrictions for England in a Downing Street press conference at 5pm on Monday, May 10.
The changes are set to come into force on May 17 with most social contact rules for outdoors to be lifted, although gatherings of more than 30 will remain illegal.
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Hide AdThe rule of six or two households will still apply indoors, with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove suggesting physical contact between friends and family will be allowed.
Indoor hospitality, entertainment venues such as cinemas and soft play areas, the rest of the accommodation sector, and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes are also expected to reopen.
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Boris Johnson set to announce further easing of lockdown restrictions from May 17
England’s chief medical officer concerned about an increase from very low levels in the prevalence of the Indian variant
England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said he is concerned about an increase from very low levels in the prevalence of the Indian variant.
He told the Downing Street press conference: “Most of them are currently relatively stable and not increasing at a great rate, the one that is slightly concerning in terms of increasing as a proportion is the variant which has been described from India.
“That does appear to be increasing but from very low levels over the last two weeks.”
June 21 deadline will not be brought forward
Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated he would not bring forward the June 21 date for the final step of easing the restrictions.
He told the Downing Street press conference: “The secret of the success that we’ve had so far is that we’ve been guided by the data and we’ve given time to see the effect of each successive stage on the road map.”
Mr Johnson said next Monday’s easing is “a very considerable unlocking” which will bring “a lot of extra movement, a lot of extra contact”.
“We think it’s prudent, we think we can do it, but it’s got to be done in a way that’s cautious and I think that we will want to have time to see the effects,” he added.