Boris Johnson confirms beer gardens, shops, gyms and hairdressers can reopen from next Monday, as lockdown easing gets green light

Boris Johnson said in his latest press conference today that he would be visiting a pub himself that day as the next stage of lockdown easing goes ahead.

“The net result of your efforts and of course the vaccine rollout is that I can today confirm that from Monday April 12, we will move to step two of our road map,” he said.

“Reopening shops, gyms, zoos, holiday campsites, personal care services like hairdressers and of course beer gardens and outdoor hospitality of all kinds.

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“And on Monday 12, I will be going to the pub myself and cautiously but irreversibly raising a pint of beer to my lips.”

Mr Johnson said that the tests for restrictions to be lifted, including progress with the vaccine roll-out and a reduction in hospitalisations, had all been met.

Regarding so-called vaccine passports, the Prime Minister said they would not be brought in before next Monday or the next phase of lockdown easing on May 17, when pubs and restaurants are scheduled to be allowed to offer indoor dining and drinking.

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He did not guarantee, however, that there would be a parliamentary vote should such certification be brought in for access to large-scale events or overseas travel.

And he said the controversial, which could also record details of recent tests and natural immunity from having had Covid in the last six months, was likely to be ‘part of the way people deal with’ international travel.

Mr Johnson refused to confirm when international travel would be allowed again. He said he was ‘hopeful that we can get going again’ from May 17 but did not want to underestimate the number of cases in some countries.

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He also urged people to take advantage of the quick-result Covid tests, which are available for free through the NHS, and he suggested testing was likely to be needed after the last stage of lockdown easing on June 21.

But he said that based on the latest data he did not think there would be any need to deviate from the ‘road map to freedom’ which has already been set out.