UK could start lifting coronavirus lockdown measures from May 11: PM

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 23: Newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson gestures at Conservative party HQ in Westminster on July 23, 2019 in London, England. After a month of hustings, campaigning and televised debates the members of the UK's Conservative and Unionist Party have voted for Boris Johnson to be their new leader and the country's next Prime Minister, replacing Theresa May. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images). Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

LONDON, May 6, 2020, BBC. The U.K. could start easing its coronavirus lockdown restrictions as early as Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday, BBC reported.

“We will want, if we possibly can, to get going with some of these measures on Monday,” Johnson told Parliament in his first Prime Minister’s Questions session since falling ill with Covid-19.

He added that a statement will be made on Sunday after the government reviews the latest data, adding it would be a “good thing” if people knew what to expect the following day.

Britain now has the highest Covid-19 death toll in Europe, according to the latest official figures, climbing past Italy which, alongside Spain, has been among the worst-affected countries globally.

Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, criticized the prime minister over the latest death statistics, asking him: “How on Earth did it come to this?”

In reply, Johnson said: “At this stage, I don’t think that international comparisons and the data is yet there to draw all the conclusions that we want.”

“I have absolutely no doubt that what the people of this country want us to do now is … to suppress this disease, to keep suppressing this disease, and to begin the work of getting our country’s economy back on its feet.”

The government is due to hold its daily coronavirus briefing at 5 p.m. London time.

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