Plans to reduce social distancing to “one metre plus” may now be delayed because of the new Indian variant of coronavirus, the Prime Minister’s spokesman has said.
Boris Johnson previously said he would announce whether rules such as putting up plastic screens and sitting facing away from each other to reduce Covid risk could be relaxed by the end of May, to give businesses adequate notice before June 21.
But on Monday his spokesman said: “Our decision will be based on very latest data, and we want to allow as much time as possible to assess this, so we will set out plans as soon as the data allows.”
Asked whether this meant the announcement could come after the end of the month, he added: “We can’t be definitive at this point because of this variant that has been identified.”
Decisions on easing lockdown measures are usually taken with the agreement of all UK four chief medical officers and then enacted through the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with the UK government issuing guidance for England.
Despite an easing of restrictions to level two in most part of the country the official advice is wear to continue wearing, to avoid crowded places, to clean hands and stay two metres away from other people.
Scots in level two areas are able to invite friends and family into their home in limited numbers of the first time while there will be a further reopening of hospitality services.
Moray and Glasgow have been left out of the scheduled downgrade of restrictions and will remain in level three as concerns grow over a sharp uptick in cases.
Glasweigans aged 18 and over living in the ‘most affected’ areas of the city have now been invited for the coronavirus vaccine amid fears of outbreak of the so-called Indian variant.
Experts believe that the mutant strain could be behind a sudden spike of infection in the southside of the city.
