Businesses to reopen if they can 'guarantee social distancing'

Nicola Sturgeon today signalled she is willing to ease coronavirus restrictions in Scotland independently of the UK government as Northern Ireland also suggested it could follow suit.

The Scottish First Minister today published a blueprint setting out how the current state of lockdown could be lifted north of the border as she said there needed to be a 'better balance' between tackling the disease and protecting the economy.

She said she wanted to have a 'grown up' discussion with the public about how to restore some ‘semblance of normality to our lives' as she set out a number of potential restrictions which could soon be loosened. 

They include allowing certain businesses to reopen if they can guarantee social distancing and looking at whether schools could also return, potentially with redesigned classrooms to keep children at least two metres away from each other.
 

However, she said large gatherings are unlikely to be allowed 'for some months to come' while the shielding of the vulnerable will also have to continue for the foreseeable future. She also insisted any easing of restrictions is not yet imminent.

It comes after Arlene Foster suggested Northern Ireland could emerge from coronavirus restrictions at a faster pace than other parts of the UK. 

Northern Ireland's First Minister said lockdown measures will be eased when certain scientific and public health criteria - such as the rate of infection and death rate - are met and not against set timelines or dates. 

The developments pile the pressure on Downing Street to set out its own end-of-lockdown plan.

Many of the powers relating to the current lockdown are devolved which means Scotland and Northern Ireland could in theory opt to do their own thing, potentially leaving England and Wales behind. 

So far the four Home Nations have been broadly on the same page in terms of action taken during the crisis and any decision to split from that way of working would have major political and social ramifications.  

Dominic Raab said last night it will be weeks before ministers even 'think about' putting forward a comprehensive exit strategy while Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said some restrictions are likely to be in place for the 'next calendar year'. 

But furious Tory MPs have warned the government it must spell out in detail how it intends to ease the UK's coronavirus lockdown to give businesses hope of survival. 

There have been signs in recent days that some people are beginning to tire of the curbs on daily life with photographs showing more people on the UK's roads,  using London's underground and in the nation's parks. 

Meanwhile, the hospitality industry has warned pubs and restaurants are facing a 'bloodbath' if the lockdown lasts long into the future as it calls for rent payments to be delayed amid fears one third of the sector could go bust.   



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