Shops, restaurants, bars and a number of other non-essential businesses will reopen in England on Monday as the country continues its coronavirus vaccination efforts.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the eased restrictions in a statement last week. Hairdressers, beauty and nail salons, gyms and spas are also among the non-essential retail locations to be reopened.
Public buildings, such as libraries and community centers, as well as outdoor settings and attractions, including zoos, theme parks, car cinemas and car shows, will also be allowed to reopen on Monday.
Restaurants and bars will also be allowed to reopen only for outdoor services, without the need for customers to buy a substantial meal with alcohol. In addition, heels will be raised at locations.
However, customers will be asked to sit while eating and drinking.
Outdoor gatherings will continue to be limited to six or two households, and indoor gatherings are still prohibited for “anyone with whom you do not live or with whom you have not formed a support bubble.”
According to Johnson, the country has decided to move to the next phase of reopening after the data confirmed the “four tests” of the government needed to reduce restrictions.
The assessment, according to the statement, was based on the vaccine implementation program in the country, evidence showing the effectiveness of the vaccine in reducing hospitalizations and deaths, infection rates that do not risk an increase in hospitalizations and whether a variants of concern. ”
The statement also noted that before the restrictions were lifted, the government “studied the latest data to assess the impact of the first step, which began when schools reopened on March 8.”
Johnson, The Associated Press, had previously promised to visit a pub to mark the reopening, but has since postponed the celebration after the death of Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
More than 27 million doses of the first vaccine have been given in England, according to the UK’s coronavirus website.
According to The New York Times, more than 4.3 million cases of coronavirus have been reported in the United Kingdom and more than 127,000 deaths have been confirmed.