Controversy over loosening Corona rules in the UK

Britain is the worst pandemic country in Europe, with over 30,600 deaths.

London (dpa) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is increasingly criticized for his plans to relax the initial restrictions in the corona crisis. He wants to announce the government's next steps on Sunday evening.

The first easing could therefore already apply from Monday. According to a government spokesman, Johnson assured his cabinet on Thursday that he would be "extremely careful".

Britain is the worst pandemic country in Europe, with over 30,600 deaths. Experts assume that the number of unreported cases is very high. For five days in a row, the government also missed its target of testing 100,000 corona viruses daily.

A relaxation of the exit restrictions must also be coordinated with the parts of the country, the party leader of the Scottish National Party SNP in the House of Commons, Ian Blackford, said in a BBC interview on Thursday. Neither he nor Scotland's Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon had been informed what Johnson was planning to do. England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland must work together, Blackford said.

Similarly, the leader of the opposition Labor party, Keir Starmer, said: "We started the exit restrictions together in the UK," he told the BBC. It would make more sense to coordinate and implement easing together.

Formally, the exit restrictions are to be extended by three weeks, as the "Telegraph" reported on Thursday. However, this does not rule out loosening, it said. A government spokeswoman refused to comment on the report on request.

British media had already speculated on the first steps that Johnson could plan: Given the nice weather, this includes opening more parks, allowing picnics and reopening outdoor cafes. It is said that more outdoor sports should also be made possible. Critics think it's too early. Many people are already not adhering to the guidelines.