UK extends lockdown till June 1

Britain's coronavirus lockdown will stay in place until at least June 1, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday (May 10), as he unveiled cautious plans to lift restrictions imposed seven weeks ago.

"This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week," he said in a televised address but added that some primary school children could return and shops re-open from June 1.

Johnson said some public places could re-open from July 1 but warned air passengers travelling to Britain faced quarantine measures.

The government has come under pressure to outline its exit strategy from the lockdown.

Britain has seen nearly 32,000 deaths in the outbreak -- the second-worst cumulative death toll behind the United States, and the worst in Europe.

But despite passing the peak of the outbreak, Johnson said it would be "madness" to waste the sacrifices the public had made since the lockdown.

Further details of what he stressed was a "conditional plan" would be outlined in parliament on Monday, he said.

Source: Agencies



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