British PM Boris Johnson: Lockdown to Ease on 12 April

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated on Monday that his government was hopeful that international travel could resume from May 17, but did not want to underestimate the growing number of COVID-19 cases elsewhere.

“Obviously we are hopeful that we can get going from May 17th, but I do not wish to give hostages to fortune or to underestimate the difficulties that we are seeing in some of the destination countries that people might want to go to,” Johnson told a news conference, adding that he did not want to see cases being reimported into the UK.

Johnson added that Pubs and restaurants serving outside can reopen as planned next Monday, along with non-essential shops, gyms and hairdressers, as England's lockdown is further eased.

However, the Prime Minister urged caution, saying: "We can't be complacent."

Officials were examining the potential role of the virus status certificates, he told a Downing Street briefing.

Furthermore, pilot events will take place from mid-April to trial the system, with later events checking vaccinations.