Home   News   National   Article

Boris Johnson’s TV speech: The unanswered questions

PA News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressing the nation about coronavirus from 10 Downing Street (Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street/Crown Copyright/PA)

The Prime Minister has set out “the first sketch of a road map” towards reopening society in England amid the fight against Covid-19.

But viewers of the televised address, which lasted around 13 minutes, may have been left with some unanswered questions.

The PA news agency has listed a few queries the public may still have as they enter week eight of lockdown.

– When can we visit family?

– Should we wear masks?

– How can people go to work when schools are still closed and there are no childcare facilities?

– Which other employees, aside from those in manufacturing and construction, are expected to return to work?

– How can employers encourage people to go back to work so soon without having seen the guidance and having had time to introduce new measures?

– What is the new guidance for employers to make workplaces “Covid-secure” and what does that mean exactly?

– Are workers allowed to refuse to go to their workplace if they believe it is unsafe, and will they be protected from being disciplined or sacked?

– Will people have to cram on to packed trains, buses and tubes to get to work if they do not have a car or live within walking or cycling distance?

– Will people be stopped from getting on to public transport because of the two-metre social distancing rules?

– How will social distancing on public transport be monitored?

– Does the Prime Minister believe workers and unions should be consulted before any return to work?

– How will any subsequent increase in Covid-19 cases in workplaces be monitored?

– Will the Health and Safety Executive be given more resources to check on the health and safety of workers?

– If someone has been furloughed, and now cannot return to work due to childcare issues, will they still be supported?

– If someone who works in manufacturing or construction is shielding, should they continue with shielding and will they be supported?

– Why does the Government believe a quarantine for UK arrivals will be effective now, when they did not bring in such a measure before?

– Will arrivals by sea be included in the quarantine plan?

– How and when will the Government get to the stage when it can ensure that hundreds of thousands of people are being tested every day?


Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More