-
Johnson urges caution as England takes first big step out of lockdown

Outdoor group socialising allowed from Monday but ad campaign stresses Covid risks of indoor meeting
Boris Johnson will stress the need for people to be cautious on Monday as England takes its first significant step towards easing lockdown restrictions for adults.
People will now be able to meet up legally outdoors in groups of six, or in two households, including in private gardens, and organised outdoor sport can resume.
The relaxation of restrictions is being accompanied by the launch of a government advertising campaign showing vividly why indoor mixing with people from other households is still deemed risky. In an unusual move, as part of the campaign, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is publicising advice from a psychologist about how people can resist pressure from their friends and relatives to break the rules.
In a statement issued overnight, Johnson said: “We must remain cautious, with cases rising across Europe and new variants threatening our vaccine rollout. Despite today’s easements, everyone must continue to stick to the rules.”Johnson is expected to expand on this message when he holds a press conference on Monday afternoon, for the first time using the new media suite installed at 9 Downing Street at a cost of £2.6m.
Although some press coverage has presented Monday as a first step on the road to freedom from lockdown, such language was notably lacking from the statement Johnson released overnight. A No 10 source said: “This one in particular, there’s very much a sense of caution, and doing things gradually, so that we can assess the data on the changes that we make, and be confident that we’re not going to have to go backwards.”
The first move towards easing the lockdown in England came on 8 March, when schools reopened. But for most adults, the impact was limited because the only rule change with wide application was allowing people to meet one other person outside for a drink or exercise.
The changes coming into force on Monday will have significantly more impact, allowing a much wider amount of outdoor socialising.
Although parts of England are set for fine weather in the early half of this week, ministers fear that many outdoor meetings could easily end up inside. TV advertisements being shown for the first time on Monday night will illustrate why this makes the risk of coronavirus transmission much higher.
Conscious that many people find it hard to resist peer pressure to meet up in a large group, or to head indoors with people from another household, the DHSC issued a statement overnight from Laverne Antrobus, a clinical psychologist, advising people how to resist.
“
“It is so important to set your boundaries and be assertive in those situations, and to continue following the guidance to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the virus.”
She also advises people that they “can say no” and that they should plan meetings carefully. The department is also encouraging Antrobus to give media interviews this week driving home the same message.
Under Johnson’s roadmap to lifting lockdown restriction, step two, allowing shops, gyms and outdoor hospitality to reopen, is scheduled for 12 April; step three, allowing indoor meetings of up to six, or two households and overnight stays is scheduled for 17 May; and step four, involving the lifting of all legal limits on social contact, is scheduled for 21 June.
These are supposed to be “not before” dates, which could be put back if the Covid situation deteriorates, but that point is not often stressed by ministers.
Johnson will also announce on Monday that the Office for Health Promotion is being set up to tackle obesity and poor mental health.
Modelled on schemes such as Singapore’s health promotion board, it will be tasked with tackling the top preventable risk factors causing death and ill health in England. But there will be no additional funding for the office, which will be resourced from the existing health budget.
On Sunday the government reported 19 further UK coronavirus deaths, with the seven-day total for deaths down 32% on the previous week. There were 3,862 new cases reported, and the weekly total was down 2% from the week before.
With 423,852 people in the UK getting their first dose of a vaccine on Saturday, more than 30 million people have now had their first jab – around 57% of all UK adults. And 3.5 million people, accounting for 6% of the adult population, have now received their second dose.
On Sunday the government confirmed that the Moderna vaccine will start being administered in the UK next month, joining the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs already in use.
Britain has ordered 17m doses of the Moderna vaccine, which has a 94% efficacy rate in trials, and it has been reported that the initial supply will be in the hundreds of thousands.
Prof Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said the arrival of the Moderna supplies would be helpful, but not a “game-changer”. He explained: “It adds an extra string to our bow if you like and it gives us an extra line of security. But it’s not a profoundly different change of direction.”
source: Andrew Sparrow
Levant
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!