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| U.K. Leader Lifts Wide Variety of Coronavirus Restrictions | U.K. Leader Lifts Wide Variety of Coronavirus Restrictions |
| (6 days later) | |
| LONDON — Three months after reluctantly and belatedly imposing a lockdown on Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that he would lift many of the restrictions — most significantly, cutting the required social distance between people in half, to one meter, or about three feet. | LONDON — Three months after reluctantly and belatedly imposing a lockdown on Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that he would lift many of the restrictions — most significantly, cutting the required social distance between people in half, to one meter, or about three feet. |
| Declaring that “our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end,” Mr. Johnson cleared the way for the reopening of pubs, restaurants, hotels and museums in England on July 4, which will bring the country closer in line with Germany, Italy and other European countries. | Declaring that “our long national hibernation is beginning to come to an end,” Mr. Johnson cleared the way for the reopening of pubs, restaurants, hotels and museums in England on July 4, which will bring the country closer in line with Germany, Italy and other European countries. |
| But scientists, including some who advise the government, warned that reducing the required social distance would substantially raise the risk of spreading the coronavirus in a country that is still reporting more than 1,000 new infections a day. | But scientists, including some who advise the government, warned that reducing the required social distance would substantially raise the risk of spreading the coronavirus in a country that is still reporting more than 1,000 new infections a day. |
| Mr. Johnson is yielding to intense pressure, including from members of his own Conservative Party, to restart the British economy and return society to a semblance of normalcy. The government’s scientific advisers offered a cautious endorsement of the changes, though not without reservations and only after anguished debate. | Mr. Johnson is yielding to intense pressure, including from members of his own Conservative Party, to restart the British economy and return society to a semblance of normalcy. The government’s scientific advisers offered a cautious endorsement of the changes, though not without reservations and only after anguished debate. |
| In a study released this month, the government’s scientific advisory group, known as SAGE, estimated that reducing the so-called two-meter rule to one meter could increase the rate of transmission anywhere from two to 10 times. | In a study released this month, the government’s scientific advisory group, known as SAGE, estimated that reducing the so-called two-meter rule to one meter could increase the rate of transmission anywhere from two to 10 times. |
| Those risks would be mitigated, it said, if people wore face coverings and avoided prolonged face-to-face contact. Transmission is far less likely outdoors, which is why pubs and restaurants serving indoors will be required to install plastic screens, provide adequate ventilation and collect contact information from customers. Face coverings are already mandatory on public transportation. | Those risks would be mitigated, it said, if people wore face coverings and avoided prolonged face-to-face contact. Transmission is far less likely outdoors, which is why pubs and restaurants serving indoors will be required to install plastic screens, provide adequate ventilation and collect contact information from customers. Face coverings are already mandatory on public transportation. |
| In announcing the changes in Parliament, Mr. Johnson said the rate of transmission had fallen far enough that the National Health Service was no longer at risk of being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. “We no longer face the virus spreading exponentially, though it remains in circulation,” he said. | In announcing the changes in Parliament, Mr. Johnson said the rate of transmission had fallen far enough that the National Health Service was no longer at risk of being overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. “We no longer face the virus spreading exponentially, though it remains in circulation,” he said. |
| To cheers from the handful of members in the chamber, the famously tousled prime minister took evident delight in the return of everyday rituals of British life. | To cheers from the handful of members in the chamber, the famously tousled prime minister took evident delight in the return of everyday rituals of British life. |
| “Almost as eagerly expected as a pint,” he said, ”will be a haircut, especially by me.” | “Almost as eagerly expected as a pint,” he said, ”will be a haircut, especially by me.” |
| Under the new plan, hairdressers in England will be able to open, as will places of worship, movie theaters, and concert halls, though they will not be allowed to stage live performances. Gyms, pools and nightclubs will remain closed. | Under the new plan, hairdressers in England will be able to open, as will places of worship, movie theaters, and concert halls, though they will not be allowed to stage live performances. Gyms, pools and nightclubs will remain closed. |
| While several countries have reduced their social distancing rules, the evidence of the effect is still open to debate. The World Health Organization advises people to keep a distance of “at least one meter,” while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States recommends that they stay “at least six feet,” or two meters, apart. | While several countries have reduced their social distancing rules, the evidence of the effect is still open to debate. The World Health Organization advises people to keep a distance of “at least one meter,” while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States recommends that they stay “at least six feet,” or two meters, apart. |
| “It will be much riskier to go to one meter,” said Susan Michie, a professor of health psychology at University College London, who is a member of the government advisory panel. “If the government were honest with the public, they would say, ‘This is a riskier strategy, but we’re taking it anyway because of economic reasons.’” | “It will be much riskier to go to one meter,” said Susan Michie, a professor of health psychology at University College London, who is a member of the government advisory panel. “If the government were honest with the public, they would say, ‘This is a riskier strategy, but we’re taking it anyway because of economic reasons.’” |
| Indeed, other parts of Britain are diverging from England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are making their own decisions on when to ease the lockdown, with Scotland and Wales moving more slowly than England. | Indeed, other parts of Britain are diverging from England. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are making their own decisions on when to ease the lockdown, with Scotland and Wales moving more slowly than England. |
| Mr. Johnson is expected to announce further measures this week to loosen the country’s 14-day quarantine on visitors by negotiating quarantine-free travel corridors between Britain and several European countries. That comes after intense lobbying from the embattled airline and tourism industries. | Mr. Johnson is expected to announce further measures this week to loosen the country’s 14-day quarantine on visitors by negotiating quarantine-free travel corridors between Britain and several European countries. That comes after intense lobbying from the embattled airline and tourism industries. |
| Britain imposed its lockdown in late March, far later than its neighbors, and it has been more cautious about lifting it, in part because it suffered one of the worst outbreaks of any Western country. Nearly 43,000 people have died; Mr. Johnson himself survived a serious bout of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. | Britain imposed its lockdown in late March, far later than its neighbors, and it has been more cautious about lifting it, in part because it suffered one of the worst outbreaks of any Western country. Nearly 43,000 people have died; Mr. Johnson himself survived a serious bout of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. |
| While the daily death toll has fallen to its lowest levels since March and the transmission rate is below one — which scientists regard as a benchmark of whether the epidemic is under control — the aggregate number of new infections continues to be high. | While the daily death toll has fallen to its lowest levels since March and the transmission rate is below one — which scientists regard as a benchmark of whether the epidemic is under control — the aggregate number of new infections continues to be high. |
| Still, the debate between public health and economic imperatives has clearly swung in favor of economics. | Still, the debate between public health and economic imperatives has clearly swung in favor of economics. |
| Officials fear the cost of lockdown has become unsustainable, especially after a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that the British economy could shrink by as much as 14 percent in 2020, putting it alongside Italy and France as the worst-hit economies in Europe. | Officials fear the cost of lockdown has become unsustainable, especially after a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated that the British economy could shrink by as much as 14 percent in 2020, putting it alongside Italy and France as the worst-hit economies in Europe. |
| Updated July 22, 2020 | |
| “This is clearly an economically driven decision,” said Devi Sridhar, director of the global health governance program at Edinburgh University. “It feels like No. 10 is gambling that the virus will mutate to a milder version or the immunity is broader than antibody studies are showing,” she added, referring to 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s office and residence. | “This is clearly an economically driven decision,” said Devi Sridhar, director of the global health governance program at Edinburgh University. “It feels like No. 10 is gambling that the virus will mutate to a milder version or the immunity is broader than antibody studies are showing,” she added, referring to 10 Downing Street, the prime minister’s office and residence. |
| Maintaining the precautionary measures will be challenging, particularly in pubs. Among the questions is whether they will be able to serve customers at the bar and allow them to take drinks back to their tables, and whether customers will abide by the measures after they have consumed alcohol. | Maintaining the precautionary measures will be challenging, particularly in pubs. Among the questions is whether they will be able to serve customers at the bar and allow them to take drinks back to their tables, and whether customers will abide by the measures after they have consumed alcohol. |
| “We now urgently need the detailed government guidelines so that we can check we have the correct measures in place to reopen safely for our team members and customers,” said Nick Mackenzie, the chief executive of Greene King, a chain of pubs and breweries. | “We now urgently need the detailed government guidelines so that we can check we have the correct measures in place to reopen safely for our team members and customers,” said Nick Mackenzie, the chief executive of Greene King, a chain of pubs and breweries. |
| Mr. Johnson’s move will also revive London’s cultural life, though questions remain about how and when the curtain can go up in theaters. The current rules allow them to screen plays or operas, but not perform them live. The government has set up working groups to try to define how they can operate safely. | Mr. Johnson’s move will also revive London’s cultural life, though questions remain about how and when the curtain can go up in theaters. The current rules allow them to screen plays or operas, but not perform them live. The government has set up working groups to try to define how they can operate safely. |
| The announcement will not allay fears of a crisis in Britain’s art world. Nicholas Hytner, the former head of the National Theater, told the BBC that “the entire arts sector is on the brink of ruin.” He said it “needed massive, unprecedented and immediate investment” to avoid waves of layoffs and bankruptcies. | The announcement will not allay fears of a crisis in Britain’s art world. Nicholas Hytner, the former head of the National Theater, told the BBC that “the entire arts sector is on the brink of ruin.” He said it “needed massive, unprecedented and immediate investment” to avoid waves of layoffs and bankruptcies. |
| Museums have been similarly hard hit. Jenny Waldman, director of the Art Fund, which supports museums, said, “The lockdown closures have hit museums’ finances incredibly hard — some may never reopen.” | Museums have been similarly hard hit. Jenny Waldman, director of the Art Fund, which supports museums, said, “The lockdown closures have hit museums’ finances incredibly hard — some may never reopen.” |
| Britain has lagged Germany, France, and Italy in reopening museums, and institutions like the Tate and the British Museum have yet to give details of when they might open. In a statement, they said they would work with the government “to see how and when we can open our doors again in a financially sustainable manner.” | Britain has lagged Germany, France, and Italy in reopening museums, and institutions like the Tate and the British Museum have yet to give details of when they might open. In a statement, they said they would work with the government “to see how and when we can open our doors again in a financially sustainable manner.” |
| As if to symbolize a turning of the page, Downing Street held the last of its regular weekday coronavirus briefings, at which Mr. Johnson or one of his ministers took questions, alongside the government’s scientific and medical advisers. | As if to symbolize a turning of the page, Downing Street held the last of its regular weekday coronavirus briefings, at which Mr. Johnson or one of his ministers took questions, alongside the government’s scientific and medical advisers. |
| Mr. Johnson spoke cheerfully about how he wanted to go back to the theater and play village cricket — two activities that are not fully possible, even under the looser restrictions — while his advisers struck a far more guarded tone. | Mr. Johnson spoke cheerfully about how he wanted to go back to the theater and play village cricket — two activities that are not fully possible, even under the looser restrictions — while his advisers struck a far more guarded tone. |
| “Two meters is safer than one meter,” said the chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance. The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, warned that the virus would afflict Britain through at least next spring. “It’s going to be a long haul,” he said. | “Two meters is safer than one meter,” said the chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance. The chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, warned that the virus would afflict Britain through at least next spring. “It’s going to be a long haul,” he said. |
| Alex Marshall contributed reporting. | Alex Marshall contributed reporting. |