British Prime Minister Boris Johnsonyesterday announced what he called the beginning of the end of 'national hibernation'. — Reuters pic
“While the future shape of the pandemic in the UK is hard to predict, the available evidence indicates that local flare-ups are increasingly likely and a second wave a real risk,” said the experts in an open letter printed in theThe letter added that the overriding task was “to ensure that the country is adequately prepared to contain a second phase”.
Prime minister Johnson yesterday announced what he called the beginning of the end of “national hibernation”, allowing the reopening of large parts of the hospitality, culture and tourism sectors in England from July 4. The decision was seen as vital to large parts of the economy, which faces recession and large-scale job losses after more than three months of closure and stay-at-home restrictions.A former government chief scientific adviser, David King, told Sky News television that the move was “extraordinarily risky”, and a political decision rather than a scientific one.