UK PM Johnson launches new COVID-19 alert system as lockdown rules 'modified'

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled his blueprint for a grual restarting of UK's coronavirus-hit ecomy and a "conditional plan" to reopen society under which people can spend more time outdoors with equate social distancing measures.

In a televised dress to nation, Johnson, a COVID-19 survivor, unveiled a five-level alert system that government will be constantly monitoring based on scientific data to track rate at which dely virus is spreing – referred to as “R” rate.

"Though we have me progress in satisfying at least some of conditions I have given, we have by means fulfilled all of m. And so , this is t time simply to end lockdown this week.

"Inste we are taking first careful steps to modify our measures," prime minister said on Sunday in a pre-recorded statement.

UK is one of world's hardest-hit nations in pandemic. On Sunday, a furr 269 people died in country after testing positive for coronavirus, taking total number of deaths to 31,855.

Johnson said that from Wednesday, people in UK will be able to sunba in ir local parks, exercise as much as y want and drive to or destinations.

In reference to alert system, he said, "Level One means disease is longer present in UK and Level Five is most critical – kind of situation we could have h if NHS (National Health Service) h been overwhelmed.

"Over period of lockdown we have been in Level Four, and it is thanks to your sacrifice we are w in a position to begin to move in steps to Level Three."

From Monday, British public are encourd to continue to work from home where possible and ors who cant work from home, such as construction workers, are encourd to resume work.

However, all workers are asked to avoid use of public transport as far as possible and use more environment friendly options such as walking and cycling.

Clarifying conditions in which businesses would reopen, Johnson said: "Throughout this period of next two months we will be driven t by mere hope or ecomic necessity. We are going to be driven by science, data and public health. And I must stress again all of this is conditional, it all depends on a series of big ifs."

Bank of England has alrey warned that UK ecomy is heing towards its sharpest recession on record.

Bank's latest Monetary Policy Report showed UK ecomy plunging into its first recession in more than a dece. ecomy shrinks by 3 per cent in first quarter of 2020, followed by an unprecedented 25 per cent decline in three months to June.

This would push UK into a technical recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of ecomic decline.

In his dress to nation, Johnson said this st would also involve reopening shops - but he cautioned this would only happen if supported by science.

next step could see some hospitality businesses and or public places reopen - "if numbers support it" - but t earlier than 1 July.

people in England will be allowed to sit in parks within ir household groups, to drive to beauty spots for walks and take unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise. People will be able to meet and sit down with a single or person outdoors as long as y stay two metres apart.

Angling, swimming in lakes or rivers, tennis and golf will all be allowed if people are sticking to ir household groups.

Prime Minister also said he was "serving tice" that it would soon be time to impose a quarantine on people coming into country by air.

rules on outdoors will be different in Scotland, rrn Ireland and Wales, with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying Scots will be allowed unlimited exercise from Monday but t any sunbathing, picnics or barbecues – unlike rules for England.

Johnson said phase two of lockdown easing will begin “at earliest by June 1”.

It will include phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in sts.

Unveiling latest government “stay alert” slogan, Johnson said, “We will come back from this devilish illness. We will come back to health, and robust health."

"And though UK will be changed by this experience, I believe we can be stronger and better than ever before. More resilient, more invative, more ecomically dynamic, but also more generous and more sharing. But for w we must stay alert, control virus and save lives," he said.

Johnson is expected to give furr details of first phase of looking into easing strict social distancing rules during a statement to Parliament on modification to UK's COVID-19 lockdown, which began on March 23.

Opposition has criticised government's new "stay alert" mess as vague.

Labour Party leer Keir Starmer said Johnson's dress lacked "clarity and consensus" and raised "as many questions as it answers".

He told BBC News that millions of people who cant work from home were effectively being told to go to work with just 12 hours' tice - and t to use public transport.

"That's why I say statement raises as many questions as it answers," he said.

Acting Lib Dem leer Ed Davey said he did t understand why government h changed its messaging at this st.

"It risks what people have fought so hard for," he said.