Boris Johnson urged to re-open UK’s deserted high streets & map route out of coronavirus lockdown

BORIS Johnson has been urged to re-open Britain’s deserted high streets and map a route out of the coronavirus lockdown.

Former Cabinet Ministers David Davis and Iain Duncan Smith has joined new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in warning of the damage to the UK economy if there is no clear exit plan.

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Officials are reportedly drawing up a three-stay “traffic light” plan that would see some businesses such as DIY stores and garden centres reopen and some pupils to return to school as early as the week of May 11.

It comes as the Prime Minister could return to lead the country out of lockdown as early as next week.

The UK death toll today reached more than 15,000 with more than 114,000 infections up and down the country.

Writing in The Mail on Sunday former Brexit Secretary Mr Davis said it is “now essential we take the brakes off the economy”.

Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith echoed Mr Davis’ comments as he told Ministers to stop “patronising” the public and explain their exit plans plans for the economy and so that “there is life after lockdown”.

Mr Starmer also wrote in the paper: “Now is not the time to lift restrictions. But we do need to have clarity about what is going to happen next.”

A government source claimed to the Daily Mail that one plan is to lift the lockdown in phases.

Under the possible plans, outdoor spaces would be opened first while pubs would be last.

The “best case scenario” could see restrictions eased for non-essential shops from early to mid-May.

The guidelines could again be relaxed by June and July – allowing for pubs and restaurants to reopen  by the end of summer.

There has been growing pressure on the government to outline its plan, with economic paralysis wreaking havoc on jobs and businesses.

Around a million out-of-work Brits have tried to claim Universal Credit since the shutdown started last month.

Two in three construction firms are set to fold by June unless the government steps in to help, with firms begging for clarity amid confusion on when the lockdown will end.

Dominic Raab this weekend confirmed Britain would remain in lockdown for three more weeks until it passes five key tests.

1. The NHS must still be able to cope – with the confidence that critical care and special treatment can continue across the UK
2. A sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rates so experts are confident that the peak has passed
3. The rate of infection falling to “manageable levels”
4. Making sure that Britain has enough testing capacity and PPE to relax measures
5. Ensuring that the changes will not risk a second peak of infections that overwhelm the NHS

But he failed to outline the exit strategy – sparking criticisms that ministers have been “treating the public like children”.

Last week, Brits were warned that coronavirus restrictions could remain in place in some form until a vaccine is developed – which could take around 18 months.

More severe restrictions will be gradually phased out but some, such as remote working and isolating if you have symptoms of the virus, will remain in some form next year.

Scientists say the discovery of a vaccine is the only genuine “exit strategy” from the virus, meaning the country will have to adjust to a “new normal”.

Insisting Britain was at “a delicate and dangerous stage” of this pandemic, Mr Raab told the No10 press conference on Thursday: “We need to be patient a while longer. If we rush to relax the measures in place, we would risk wasting all the sacrifices and all the progress we have made.

“We’ve just come too far, we’ve lost too many loved ones, we’ve already sacrificed far too much to ease up now.”

PA:Press Association