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Coronavirus: Boris Johnson sets out plan for 'significant normality' by Christmas

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7 hours ago

Coronavirus pandemic

VIDEO

Coronavirus restrictions will ease further in England under plans for a "significant return to normality" by Christmas, Boris Johnson has announced.

Under the new guidelines, people may use public transport for journeys immediately, while advice for employers will change from 1 August.

Companies will have more discretion to bring staff back to workplaces if it is safe to do so, the PM explained.

Mr Johnson added he was "hoping for the best and planning for the worst".

At a news conference at Downing Street, the prime minister said the plan "remains conditional" on continued progress in controlling the virus and preventing a second wave of infections that could overwhelm the NHS.

"It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest - possibly in time for Christmas," he said.

Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to set their own timings for the easing of restrictions.

* Councils to get coronavirus shutdown powers
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-53444290

* Reality Check: PM's statement fact-checked
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/53443161

In the announcement, Mr Johnson said the government was making it clear to people in England they may use public transport now.

From 1 August, he said: "Instead of government telling people to work from home, we are going to give employers more discretion, and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely."

He explained that could mean "continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees".

However, the Welsh government said it would carry on advising people to work from home.

VIDEO - Labour's Starmer on lifting coronavirus lockdown measures

Responding to Mr Johnson's announcement, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "I positively don't want people to be returning to offices in the way that we did before coronavirus happened."

[...]

On Friday, a further 114 coronavirus deaths were announced, taking the total number of people who have died with the virus in the UK to 45,233.

It comes as Public Health England said it was pausing the publication of the daily death figure .. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public .. while officials investigate claims that the numbers may have been distorted .. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53443724 .

[...]

On Thursday, the government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, told MPs there was "absolutely no reason .. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53436865 " to change the government's current guidance on working from home.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53441912

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