A successful deconfinement for pubs in England

Pubs reopened in England on July 4, 2020 with strict safety guidelines. AFP Photo / Tolga Akmen

Text by: RFI Follow

A new major phase of deconfinement took place this Saturday, July 4 in England. After more than three months of closed doors, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers were able to welcome the public again.

Publicity

Read more

From our correspondent in London, Élodie Goulesque

This "  Super Saturday  " as the British call it went pretty well. In the streets of London, life has finally returned. Obviously, some establishments were more conscientious than others in terms of the layout of the interior spaces, but overall the hairdressers wore masks, visors and gloves, and the customers of pubs and restaurants rather favored the terraces despite the poor summer weather. .

Sparse crowd

Despite everything, we were far from having large crowds. According to a YouGov survey, only 4% of regulars wanted to go there on Saturday. It must be said that the government has been repeating messages encouraging restraint in recent days.

► To read also: Reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers: the English shared

After a communication campaign this week where we saw Boris Johnson and his Minister of Finance Rishi Sunak having a drink in a pub which was preparing to reopen, the Prime Minister reminded the British this Saturday on Twitter that this relaxation of confinement n was possible only by respecting the rules of physical distance.

As pubs and restaurants open across England today, it's absolutely vital that everyone follows the rules on social distancing.

We've worked so hard and together saved so many lives.
Stick to the rules this weekend, keep apart from others and wash your hands several times a day.

  Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) July 4, 2020

Opposition leader Keir Starmer preferred to post a photo of him on Twitter titled “FINALLY! Where we see him having his hair cut while reminding that the virus is still there.

A bad student was still caught on the canvas: Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, proudly showing off a pint of beer in his local pub when he is supposed to be in quarantine after going to the United States recently.

Finally!

My barber Chris told me this morning coronavirus has been the biggest challenge his business has ever faced.

The virus has not gone away. We need targeted support for businesses and the furlough scheme extended for those parts of the economy most at risk. pic.twitter.com/QEd52hbHg5

  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 4, 2020

Welsh and Scots still have to wait

A return to almost normal life therefore, but which does not apply to the whole of the United Kingdom. These reopenings specifically concerned England. In Northern Ireland, pubs, restaurants and hotels have already reopened since Friday.

But conversely, in Wales, these establishments will only be able to reopen from 13 July and it is only from Monday 6 July that Welsh people will be able to move throughout the country and no longer only in a 8 km perimeter. Much further north, it is only from Monday that the Scots can enjoy a pint at the local pub.

Leicester still confined

But England also has some exceptions. The city of Leicester, in the center of the country, had to back down after an upsurge of Covid-19 cases. Several schools were first affected and the number of cases has continued to increase since the beginning of June. Local authorities and the government have come under fire for reacting too late. Result: the city remains in confinement at least until July 18.

►Read also: The pandemic wreaks havoc in British industry

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • United Kingdom
  • Coronavirus
  • consumption
  • Society

On the same subject

Pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopen: the English shared