Boris Johnson to scrap 10pm pub curfew in a bid to boost hospitality sector amid pandemic

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to scrap 10 pm curfew on pubs and restaurants under his new three-tier approach to prevent surge of Coronavirus cases. According to Sun, Johnson plans to extend opening hours until 11pm in a bid to get Britons into Christmas spirit. Under new winter COVID plan, restaurants and pubs can take last orders at 10pm and diners can take an extra hour to finish ir meal. new plan is aimed at providing a boost to  hospitality sector, which has been ravd by unprecedented pandemic. 

While speaking to media outlet, a person close to UK PM said that 10pm last orders and being allowed to stay longer “sounds eminently sensible”. He also added that new restrictions could be initiated in some areas including travel bans and curbs on overnight stays. 

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As per reports, Johnson will convene his Cabinet on Sunday before formally anuncing his strategy in Parliament on Monday. His COVID winter plan will begin after current national restrictions end on December 2. Under new rules, England will move back to a three-tier system with regional restrictions - before rules are relaxed for Christmas. 

England to return to three-tiered system 

According to Associated Press, Johnson’s office on Saturday said that government plans to return to using a three-tiered system of localised restrictions in England, with areas facing different measures based on severity of outbreaks. office added that more communities are expected to be placed in two highest virus alert categories.

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Furr, British government also confirmed plans to begin a nationwide COVID-19 vaccine program next month, assuming regulators approve a vaccine against deadly virus. government will also increase mass testing in an effort to suppress virus until vaccines can be rolled out. 

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock had said that lockdown has been successful in slowing spread of virus, however, he stressed that people needed to keep following rules to keep cases down. new coronavirus cases have started to drop across UK, with a number of positive tests during past seven days falling 13.8 per cent from week before. As per reports, nearly 2,861 COVID-related deaths were registered over last seven-day period, 17 fewer than a week earlier. infection rate, however, remains high at 244 cases for every 100,000 people. 

(Im: AP) 

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