The prime minister has urged members of the public to "act responsibly" as lockdown is eased today in England.
A range of businesses, from hairdressers to pubs, restaurants to cinemas, will be allowed to reopen for the first time since their closure in March. However, in a press conference yesterday, Boris Johnson warned that "we are not out of the woods yet".
The change in rules comes a matter of days after Leicester was put into local lockdown as a result of a spike in cases. Schools and businesses have been closed, and residents advised not to travel in an effort to quell the spread of the virus.
The prime minister said that the move is centred around "supporting the livelihoods of business owners and their employees up and down the country".
He continued, praising the "heroic efforts" of businesses across England to prepare for today’s reopening, but added a timely reminder that: "The success of these businesses, the livelihoods of those who rely on them, and ultimately the economic health of the whole country is dependent on every single one of us acting responsibly. We must not let them down.
"Just as when we first locked down, we will only succeed in reopening if everyone works together. Because we are not out of the woods yet. The virus is still with us and the spike in Leicester has shown that."
Johnson concluded that: "So as we take this next step, our biggest step yet, on the road to recovery, I urge the British public to do so safely."
