Working from home could remain until JUNE under Boris Johnson’s lockdown roadmap despite plan to abandon ‘Stay at Home’ slogan for ‘Stay Local’ at the end of March
Britons could be working from home until the summer, Boris Johnson’s roadmap reveals today.
The official ‘stay home’ slogan that has accompanied the latest lockdown as it did the first is to be officially abandoned on March 29, when people are allowed to leave home for social reasons.
It will be replaced by ‘stay local’ as ministers try to allow people some freedom without creating a surge in Covid cases.
But Mr Johnson told MPs in the Commons today that working from home should go on until the completion of a review into social distancing measures, that will access which ones are needed longer term.
His roadmap document reveals that that review is expected to be completed ‘ahead of step 4’, which will start no earlier than June 21.
Ir raises the prospect of economic problems for city centres across the UK to continue for many months to come – while shops, pubs and restaurants will be allowed to open they may not have any customers.
Mr Johnson told MPs in the Commons today that working from home should go on until the completion of a review into social distancing measures, that will access which ones are needed longer term.
The official ‘stay home’ slogan that has accompanied the latest lockdown as it did the first is to be officially abandoned on March 29, when people are allowed to leave home for social reasons.
Mr Johnson told the Commons today:’ Our journey back towards normality will be subject to resolving a number of key questions and to do this we will conduct four reviews.
‘One will assess how long we need to maintain social distancing and face masks.
‘This will also inform guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete.’
The roadmap document itself goes into more detail.
‘Social distancing is difficult and damaging for businesses and, as a result, it is important to return to as near to normal as quickly as possible,’ it says.
‘Ahead of Step 4, as more is understood about the impact of vaccines on transmission and a far greater proportion of the population has been vaccinated, the Government will complete a review of social distancing measures and other long-term measures that have been put in place to limit transmission.
‘The results of the review will help inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which rules on 1m+, face masks and other measures may be lifted.
‘The review will also inform guidance on working from home – people should continue to work from home where they can until this review is complete.’