British PM Johnson rules out accelerating end of COVID-19 restrictions

Reuters
·1 min read
FILE PHOTO: Local elections in Britain
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LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday appeared to rule out bringing forward the end of COVID-19 restrictions in England, saying that the success of the roadmap out of England's COVID-19 lockdown depended on leaving space stages.

Asked if he might bring forward a June 21 date for the final stage of his roadmap out of lockdown, Johnson said: "I think it's very important that we should proceed cautiously."

"The secret of the success that we've had so far I think it's been that we have been guided by the data and we've given time to see the effect of each successive stage on the roadmap."

Johnson added the one-metre plus social distancing rule for restaurants and pubs might be ditched on June 21.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton; writing by Alistair Smout; editing by Michael Holden)