Government’s updated rules revealed by Prime Minister 7 pm Sunday, 10th May
The slogan Stay At Home Save Lives will from today be replaced with Stay Alert Save Lives.
Government Advice:
- Stay at home as much as possible
- Work at home if you can
- Limit contact with other people
- Keep your distance if you go out (2m apart where possible)
- Wash your hands regularly
- If you or anyone in your household has symptoms, you need to self-isolate
Scotland and Wales maintain stricter rules
Nicola Sturgeon has stressed that she will be maintaining the Stay At Home message for people in Scotland. Despite the PM swapping over this message from tonight. Something reiterated by Wales’s First Minister Mark Drakeford.
Threat levels introduced
Boris also went on to say that under the new threat levels introduced, England is currently at stage four of the threat levels to the UK but moving towards stage three.
What does this mean?
Boris Johnson’s ease of lockdown intended to communicate our exit strategy prior to measures being put in place from tomorrow morning. In anticipation, the media have been celebrating prior to any formal announcement this week of lockdown ending, which to me was incredibly irresponsible given that we had a warm bank holiday in front of us.
With the lockdown, there have been the supporters and then increasingly, there have been the detractors. Hyde Park was host to a gathering this weekend, demonstrating for the lockdown to end, which was broken up by Police. Others took to the parks to have picnics in the sunshine, even if they claim to have been social distancing st the time. Yet many others stayed at home.
Trending on Twitter was #BorisHasFailedBritain and #ThanksBoris which shows the polarising views after the announcement. Communicating our strategy and roadmap to end the lockdown but to remain alert, emphasises the fact that we are not out of this at all. With fines increasing (although there is no information about what these are or how they will be incurred) and finally some sort of requirement to quarantine after travelling (a bit late don’t you think when other countries shut down all travel). We wonder how the country will react to this news.
Step 1:
The announcement tonight is somewhat vague and divisive. Many people will be wondering whether or not they will be recalled to work Monday morning if they haven’t been already. For those people who rely on public transport, the concern is greater as Boris said to reopen the economy but not to use public transport if you can. Don’t get me wrong. Europe is starting to ease restrictions and it was only a matter of time before we followed suit. However, for anyone who relies on public transport to get to work they have every right to be concerned.
Work from home if you can
“We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must. We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance, those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.
And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will, therefore, be limited. So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home. And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces COVID-secure. And when you do go to work, if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle. But just as with workplaces, public transport operators will also be following COVID-secure standards.”
You are encouraged to socialise with your household and to practice social distancing
“And from this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise. You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports, but only with members of your own household.”
Step 2:
“In step two – at the earliest by June 1 – after half term – we believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages”.
Step 3:
“And step three – at the earliest by July – and subject to all these conditions and further scientific advice: if and only if the numbers support it, we will hope to reopen at least some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing.”
What do you all think about today’s announcement?