While calling for vigilance in the face of certain variants from which it has so far escaped, England is entering its second wave of its deconfinement.
After reopening its schools on March 8, England is taking a new step out of the confinement introduced in January.
From Monday, groups of six people or two different homes will be allowed to meet outdoors.
Amateur sportsmen can also resume the practice of tennis, golf, basketball, swimming or other sports taking place in the open air.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson sees this "Happy Monday" as an opportunity to "kick off a great British sporting summer", wishing "people of all ages to find their teammates and resume activities they enjoy.
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Almost 60% of the adult population vaccinated
While the health situation is more and more tense in many countries such as France, the United Kingdom, which has recorded more than 126,500 dead, launched in December in a race for vaccination in order to get out of a devastating confinement for its economy.
In total, thanks to sera from Oxford / AstraZeneca and Pfizer / BioNTech, 30 million people received a first dose of the vaccine, or almost 60% of the adult population.
Wonderful news that over 30 million people have received their first dose.
We need to keep up the momentum.
Please make sure you get your second dose when you are called to do so.
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- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 28, 2021
17 million doses of a third vaccine, that of the American Moderna, should complete this arsenal next month, said Sunday the Minister of Culture Oliver Dowden, wanting to be reassuring in the face of concerns about the supply of vaccines linked to a conflict with the European Union.
Still, the authorities do not want to skip the steps and call for caution.
Despite these "last difficult months" and the "impatient" desire to see his loved ones, the Minister of Health Matt Hancock encouraged in a statement the British to "take this new step safely", to "protect the progress made thanks to the vaccine ”.
"As the increase in cases in Europe shows, this virus still poses a very real threat," he warned.
No large gatherings or private parties
London police recalled in a statement on Sunday that "any large gathering" remained prohibited, saying they were ready to "respond quickly to private parties and dangerous raves".
“We must remain cautious,” he also called Boris Johnson, conceding that “the increase in cases in Europe and the new variants which threaten our vaccination campaign” could arrive in the United Kingdom in three weeks.
Ahead of outdoor organized sport returning across England tomorrow, good luck to everyone getting back to the sports you love - from football to netball and much more.
After a difficult few months, it's great that so many will be able to get back out there.
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- Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 28, 2021
The leader, however, affirmed that he "saw absolutely nothing in the scientific data" which could for the moment "dissuade him from continuing on the path to freedom" constituted by his deconfinement plan.
If this is the case, the next step in this process will be on April 12 the reopening of the terraces of pubs, bars and restaurants, as well as non-essential businesses such as hairdressers.
The Prime Minister was delighted in advance to be able to "finally" wear a new cup and drink a beer in the pub.