LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) – The English shops, hairdressers, gyms and pub gardens reopen Monday in what Prime Minister Boris Johnson said was an “important step” toward liberation from the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Hundreds of thousands of businesses have been shut down since early January, when England entered a third lockdown to stem rising infections caused by the “Kent” variety of the virus.
A vaccination campaign that gave more than half of adults a first chance and lockdown measures reduced the number of deaths by more than 95% and cases by more than 90% from the peak in January.
The seven deaths on Sunday within 28 days of a positive COVID test are the lowest daily death toll since September 14 by this measure.
That progress would allow for a phased relaxation of the lockdown, Johnson said earlier this month, adding that he is looking forward to a pint in a pub garden.
“I am sure it will be a huge relief to those entrepreneurs who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it is an opportunity to get back to doing what we love and missed,” he said in a statement. on Sunday.
“I urge everyone to continue to act responsibly and to remember ‘hands, face, space and fresh air’ to suppress COVID as we continue our vaccination program.”
With more than 127,000 fatalities, the UK has the fifth highest death toll in the world since COVID-19.
Convincing people to return to some sort of normalcy and spend money again is key to Britain’s recovery after official data last month showed that 2020 was the worst year for its economy in more than three centuries.
British retailers, who have lost an estimated 27 billion pounds ($ 37 billion) in sales during lockdowns, hope pent-up demand will spark a trade boom.
Non-essential stores, such as home and fashion chains, will reopen in Wales and England on Monday, although those in Scotland will have to wait until April 26.
Pubs and restaurants can only serve outside from Monday, although the early rules requiring meals to be served with drinks and curfews have been dropped. Back office sales are not allowed on 17 May at the earliest.
$ 1 = 0.7296 pounds Reporting by Paul Sandle. Editing by Jane Merriman