Scotland unveils 4-phase lockdown exit 'roadmap'

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) – British authorities announced on Thursday that a further 338 people died due to COVID-19 across the UK, as Scotland outlined a plan to lift its lockdown.

The nationwide death toll from the virus has risen to 36,042, with a total of 250,908 infections, the Department of Health said.

A survey by University College London found that fewer than 50% of people under 30 in the UK were now completely following lockdown restrictions such as social distancing and staying at home.

The researchers interviewed over 90,000 adults, and found that overall compliance with lockdown restrictions decreased from 70% of people to less than 60%.

- Scotland

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled Scotland’s “roadmap” out of the lockdown.

“There is no completely risk free way of lifting lockdown,” she said, warning that “the danger of a second wave later in the year is very real indeed” if health advice was not followed.

Phase 1 will start on May, and will allow Scots to go outdoors for recreational purposes, and for households to meet in small numbers outdoors, including in gardens.

Those who cannot work from home will be allowed to travel to work, but employers have been asked to be flexible in terms of start times and shifts.

Phase 2 will see Scots able to meet in public in larger numbers, with social distancing still in place, and households can meet each other indoors too. Pubs and restaurants can reopen their outdoor spaces, and playgrounds and sports courts will also be opened.

Phase 3 will see schools reopen, with the Scottish government announcing the date as August 11. Work offices as well as pubs, restaurants, and shops will also be able to reopen their indoor spaces, but social distancing will still be in force.

Phase 4 will see mass gatherings allowed again, as well as the reopening of shopping outlets.

The pandemic has claimed more than 328,700 lives in 188 countries and regions since originating in China last December. The US and Europe are currently the world’s worst-hit regions.

More than 5 million cases have been reported worldwide and nearly 1.91 million people have recovered to date, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.