This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
As the UK struggles to recover from the economic impact of a months-long lockdown, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is eager to avoid another national shutdown. In a recent interview, he expressed his reluctance to use a national lockdown again, likening it to a nuclear deterrent.
Johnson's comments come as the UK continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed the highest death toll in Europe. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the country's ability to tackle the virus, citing improvements in health authorities' ability to spot and isolate local outbreaks.
However, experts are more cautious, with Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warning that social distancing measures will need to continue for a long period of time. Chief Scientific Advisor Patrick Vallance also expressed concerns about the risk of a second wave of infection, describing it as 'high'.
Johnson's plans to ease lockdown measures in England include lifting homeworking guidance and reopening sports stadiums and live theatre. While employers will have more discretion to urge staff to return to work, the government's advice remains to work from home where possible.
