Cautious Hugging And Pints Indoors: Boris Johnson Eases England Lockdown

The government announced a four-step plan in February for the gradual easing of social restrictions, with the next phase due to come into force next week.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday gave the green light to cautious hugging and the serving of pints inside pubs after months of strict restrictions as he set out the next phase of covronavirus lockdown easing in England. The government announced a four-step plan in February for the gradual easing of social restrictions, with the next phase due to come into force next week. Johnson said that the government would allow families and close friends to make their own choices on social contact, but urged people not to throw caution to the winds, and said social distancing must in workplaces, shops and restaurants. "This unlocking amounts to a very considerable step on the road back to normality and I am confident that we will be able to go further," Johnson told a media conference.