The COVID Diaries – 110 17th July
Boris Johnson has been accused of making policy “on a wing and a prayer” having held out the prospect of a “significant return to normality” by Christmas.
Today he announced a fresh easing of lockdown restrictions in England and after four months of encouraging people to work from home to help contain the spread of coronavirus, he said from 1 August the onus would be on employers to decide whether staff could safely come back to the office.
Theatre performances and business conferences could return in coming months, and Johnson said it “may conceivably be possible to move away from the social distancing measures” by November. Scientific observers have questioned the plausibility of this claim.
Johnson also said local lockdowns would be implemented quickly where needed, and he unveiled plans to hand local authorities greater powers.