'We must trust the British people to show common sense'

Restaurants, bars, pubs, leisure parks, campsites, hair and beauty salons  are set to reopen on July 4th as Prime Minister Boris Johnson has laid out plans to ease lockdown measures, including the reduction in social distancing guidelines from 2 metres to 1.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Boris Johnson explained that given how rigourously the British people have abided by the rules and guidelines set out since the beginning of lockdown, now is the right time to allow more businesses to reopen. 

'Guidelines not rules'

The measures for this, which will apply in England only, will include staff wearing face masks and/or shields, contactless payment as well as limited staff and customers on premise at any given time. Businesses will be asked to take contact details for customers, in order to implement local test and trace measures if necessary. 

He said: "After the toughest restrictions in our history, we are now able to ease lockdown measures.

"Today we can say that our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end."

Nightclubs, gyms and indoor exercise areas, will, however, remain closed, but the Prime Minister promised to set up task forces to enable their safe reopening.  

Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, said that the Labour Party supported the reduction in social distancing guidelines, as this will not only allow businesses to reopen, but schools, too. 

One must show caution - and we will see future outbreaks 

The shift marks a decided turn since the pandemic started, one which is hoped will play out smoothly. 

But, make no mistake, the PM said: "There will be flare ups for which locals measures will be needed and we will not hesitate to apply the brakes and reinforce lockdown measures on a national scale if needed."

The latter could have drastic consequences on the hospitality industry, which has been one of the most affected by the lockdown. 

While one member of Parliament asked the Prime Minister to urge customers 'to do their patriotic duty' and return to pubs from July 4th onwards, he said that people should continue to exercise caution, but that it would indeed be a positive and celebratory time for people to reunite with their friends and families within the boundaries of what is safe.

But with an increasingly effective test and trace system and the improvement of treatment, the virus remaining in circulation work in favour of the easing of lockdown of measures. 

The full list of guidelines for hospitality businesses can be found here.