BORIS Johnson will ditch England’s “Stay at Home” lockdown guidelines in just weeks, it has been reported.
The Prime Minister’s officials are looking to scrap the slogan and take the first steps out of lockdown as part of England’s “roadmap” out of current tight restrictions.
It was reported in The Sun that from as soon as March 8, people will be encouraged to take part in small outdoor gatherings, possibly including sports.
The change from “Stay at Home” guidance may also see the public encouraged to get fit.
READ MORE: Devolved nations reject Westminster's new 'stay alert' slogan
Any changes to Scotland’s restrictions or messaging will be decided by the Scottish Government.
Last year Johnson’s government changed the Stay at Home slogan to “Stay Alert” in May – prompting Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to announce they would stick with the original guidance.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was extremely critical of the new messaging, saying she did not know what “Stay Alert” meant. She also revealed that the devolved nations were not told about the change before it was unveiled in the Sunday Telegraph.
Speaking at a coronavirus briefing at the time, she told viewers: “For Scotland right now, given the fragility of the progress we have made, given the critical point we are at, it would be catastrophic for me to drop the ‘stay at home’ message, which is why I am not prepared to do it … particularly in favour of a message that is vague and imprecise.”
While the Government removed the once-a-day limit on outdoor exercise, she said that should not be seen as a “licence to start meeting up in groups”.
“Doing that really does risk spreading this virus,” she explained.
READ MORE: NHS doctor in England says to 'ignore Boris, listen to Sturgeon'
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference last night, the Prime Minister vowed to remove current English restrictions in a “cautious but also irreversible” way, but said he could not promise an “absolute cast iron guarantee”.
The Tory leader will publish his plans for easing England’s lockdown next week, and will chair a meeting of the UK Government Cabinet’s “Covid O” committee to finalise details.
According to UK sources Johnsons top priorities include allowing people to take part in more outdoor activity and helping to “kickstart the health of the nation”.
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