Boris Johnson produces UK coronavirus roadmap

Boris Johnson has published a 51-page roadmap to ‘give people hope’ and ease lockdown measures over the coming months to deal with the coronavirus.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street in London on Monday. Picture: AFP

Boris Johnson has published a 51-page roadmap to “give people hope” and ease lockdown measures over the coming months to deal with the coronavirus, although he has warned the country may have to face a worst-case scenario where a vaccine is never found.

The detailed document released on Monday afternoon UK time, builds on his national address and allows for a lengthy and slow plan to deal with the virus for the long haul, “even while doing all we can to avoid that outcome’’.

He added: “While we hope for a breakthrough, hope is not a plan. A mass vaccine or treatment may be more than a year away. Indeed, in a worst-case scenario, we may never find a vaccine.’’

In a fresh acknowledgment of the particularly torrid price being paid to the country’s way of life, society, economy and long-term public health, Mr Johnson said: “We know it has taken a heavy toll on society – in particular to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged – and has brought loneliness and fear to many.

“We’ve asked you to protect those you love by separating yourself from them; but we know this has been tough, and that we must avoid this separation from turning into loneliness.

“So this plan seeks to return life to as close to normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and fairly as possible, in a way that is safe and continues to protect our National Health Service.”

As well as encouraging non-retail workers to return to work, the plan allows for an interaction with one other person outside of the household in an open area from tomorrow.

In crowded places, Britons will be told to wear homemade cloth face-coverings to protect against asymptomatic and inadvertent transmission of the disease to others.

The official advice is that everyone who cannot do their job from home should go to work providing their workplace is open, but to avoid public transport.

The government specifically mentions that workers in food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution and scientific research in laboratories should go to work.

However, hospitality and “non-essential” retail businesses will remain closed.

The advice also demands social distancing be carried out in schools and on public transport – requirements that are almost impossible to achieve.

Schools will begin a phased opening from June 1, with kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils first to go back to school in small class sizes, with teachers charged with ensuring children stay two metres apart, but home schooling will continue in some form for some time for most children.

“The rate of infection remains too high to allow the reopening of schools for all pupils yet,’’ the document says. The government also wants companies to stagger working hours and encourage workers to cycle to work.

The document says if companies can meet coronavirus guidelines with hygiene and social distancing, food service providers, some pubs and hotels, and churches will be able to open from July 4, pending analysis of the infection rates of the virus thorough the country in the coming weeks.

But it warns most pubs, gyms, cinemas and hairdressers will open “significantly later’’.

To help boost the mood of an anxious nation, the document also allows for some professional televised sport to recommence, without crowds, from next month.