Boris Johnson unveils alert system for England

Boris Johnson speech muddled and confusing

Boris Johnson has unveiled a “conditional plan” to reopen society, allowing people in England to spend more time outdoors from Wednesday.

The PM also said people who could not work from home should return to the workplace – but avoid public transport.

He said a new Covid Alert System with five levels would govern how quickly lockdown restrictions could be eased.

He hoped the next step “at the earliest by 1 June” would be for some primary pupils to return to school in England.

In an address to the nation, Mr Johnson said this stage would also involve reopening shops – but he cautioned this would only happen if the science supported it.

The next step could see some hospitality businesses and other public places reopen – “if the numbers support it” – but not earlier than 1 July.

He said these steps formed part of a “first sketch of a roadmap for reopening society”.

The PM added: “This is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week. Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures.”

Mr Johnson also confirmed that fines for the “for the small minority who break” lockdown rules will increase.

Piers Morgan slams ‘disingenuous’ Boris Johnson speech as ‘total waste of time’

The Prime Minister said that the coronavirus was “the most vicious threat this country has faced in my lifetime”.

And he added: “It’s a fact that by adopting those measures we prevented country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst case scenario was half million fatalities”.

But Mr Morgan was less than impressed.

The GMB presenter tweeted: “The Prime Minister changed UK strategy after he was told the herd immunity policy he’d been pursuing for weeks would lead to 500k deaths.

“How many died unnecessarily before he U-turned to the way everyone else was already doing it?”

‘The Prime Minister changed UK strategy after he was told the herd immunity policy he’d been pursuing for weeks would lead to 500k deaths. How many died unnecessarily before he U-turned to the way everyone else was already doing it? ‘So nothing’s really changed then. Total waste of time.

So disingenuous. The Prime Minister changed UK strategy after he was told the herd immunity policy he’d been pursuing for weeks would lead to 500k deaths. How many died unnecessarily before he U-turned to the way everyone else was already doing it? https://t.co/UegqgeVZMI

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 10, 2020

He added: ‘So, the Prime Minister is urging millions of non-essential workers to go out to work – but also telling people we still can’t see family or friends even if we maintain the same social distancing rules as non-essential workers at work? Makes no sense.’ Piers’

Good Morning Britain co-host Susanna Reid shared a similar sentiment and tweeted: ‘Thanks to all those who told me Boris would clarify at 7pm. He didn’t.’

I rarely comment on politics here, and avoid publicly siding with one party (all pretty useless at the moment) because no one should give a shit about celebs opinions. But it’s hard to imagine a greater display of inept leadership and muddled thinking then Boris just displayed.

— Jonathan Ross (@wossy) May 10, 2020

Talk show host Jonathan Ross also weighed in: ‘I rarely comment on politics here, and avoid publicly siding with one party (all pretty useless at the moment) because no one should give a shit about celebs opinions. But it’s hard to imagine a greater display of inept leadership and muddled thinking then Boris just displayed.’