UK PM urges caution as outdoor meet-ups, sports resume in England - Global Times

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday urged the public to remain cautious as outdoor get-togethers and sports resumed in England.

As the next step of the British government's "roadmap" exiting the lockdown, two households or groups of up to six are now allowed to meet outside, including in private gardens, and outdoor team sports are reopening from Monday.

The Monday move marks the second easing of the lockdown, imposed across England in early January, after schools reopened to all pupils on March 8.

"We must remain cautious," said Johnson, as the "stay at home" slogan was officially scrapped at midnight and replace with "stay local".

"We have got to remain humble in the face of nature and we have got to be prepared to do whatever it takes to protect the British public,," he said.

"Today marks the next stage of our roadmap to cautiously ease restrictions in England. As vaccines are being rolled out it's vital that we don't overdo it and risk all the progress we've made," he said on Twitter.

Under the new measures, people should still work from home if possible and minimize their journeys.

From April 12, non-essential retail, as well as restaurants and pubs -- if serving people outdoors -- will be allowed to reopen in England.

In further positive developments, London on Monday recorded its first day in six months without a COVID death, and British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the "door is not shut" on foreign holidays this summer.

Meanwhile, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty told a virtual Downing Street press conference that the "wall of vaccination" will get stronger once people receive their second doses.

"But it is not a complete wall, it is a kind of leaky wall," Whitty said. "Therefore, there will always be some people who either have chosen not to be vaccinated, or where the vaccine has had much less effect."...