UK, First Country to Administer Vaccine, Starts Return to Normal Life... "Lifting Lockdown by June"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The UK, which was the first country in the world to start COVID-19 vaccinations, will gradually lift lockdown measures by June.

On the 22nd (local time), Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a four-step plan including this, according to local media such as the BBC.

The first step, effective from April 8, focuses on reopening schools and allowing gatherings of two people for non-exercise purposes in outdoor public places such as parks. From April 29, outdoor gatherings of up to six people or two households will be allowed, and outdoor sports facilities will reopen.

In the second step, starting April 12, general non-essential shops, outdoor pubs, hair salons, gyms, libraries, museums, zoos, and swimming pools will resume operations.

The third step, effective from May 17, will allow indoor gatherings of up to six people or two households. Restaurants, pubs, theaters, and hotels will operate, and performances and sports events with up to 10,000 spectators will be permitted.

In the fourth step, on June 21, all legal restrictions will be lifted. Businesses that were last to be banned, such as nightclubs, will reopen, and there will be no limits on wedding attendees.

With daily new cases still reaching 10,000, the UK has released this roadmap as one in four adults have been vaccinated.

While the UK government specified the dates for each phase on this day, it explained that these are not fixed schedules but the earliest possible dates.

Prime Minister Johnson said, "There is no path to a COVID-free UK or a COVID-free world," and "(the implementation of each phase) depends on data, not dates."

As variant viruses spread, the UK implemented a third lockdown last month. As a result, the number of new daily cases, which once reached 70,000, has dropped to the 10,000 range as of this date.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.