England Eases Lockdown, With Pubs, Cinemas & Hairdressers Set To Open

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today confirmed that restaurants, pubs and hairdressers will reopen in England from 4 July.

Mr Johnson also declared that the 2m distance rule will be reduced to just 1m plus as a result in the steep decline in both new cases and deaths of COVID-19 which has brought the world to an almost complete standstill. However, other close proximity venues like gyms and spas remain closed, much to the objection of people wanting them to reopen.

It was also made clear that COVID-19 is still present and we must not treat this announcement as the final step, adding “caution will remain our watchword”. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said it was the government's "aspiration" to reopen gyms and leisure facilities in "mid-July".

Today’s announcement comes three months to the day since Mr Johnson took England into lockdown.

In response, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said ‘There are obviously of a number of questions that need to be answered, but overall I welcome this statement.”