[Kyng]

Here in the UK, things are a bit of a mess.

With over 32,000 deaths so far, we have the highest number of cases in the EU (or rather, we would if we hadn't left the EU four months ago). In order to keep the death toll down, we've been in lockdown since late March - only being allowed to leave the house for essential shopping; for health reasons; once a day for exercise; to help vulnerable people; or to go to work if we can't work from home.

However, there have been some changes introduced this week. The official slogan in England has been changed from "Stay home / Protect the NHS / Save lives" to "Stay alert / Control the virus / Save lives". In terms of specifics, garden centres are allowed to re-open (since they're considered relatively 'safe', and they have lots of perishable stock); exercise is no longer limited to once a day; and people who can't work from home are being actively encouraged to go to work (but they're being discouraged from using public transport). Other non-essential shops will re-open from 1st June, while restaurants and hairdressers will re-open from 4th July - but only if it's judged safe to do so.

On the whole, people seem to have been pretty negative towards the latest changes. The change from "Stay home" to "Stay alert" has been criticised as unclear and confusing - especially since it applies only to England (whereas Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all stuck with "Stay home", even while re-opening garden centres and making the other changes listed above). I understand that the four parts of the UK will need to differ in the specifics, to tailor their responses to their own individual needs; however, I think they should be co-ordinating on broad aims, and I don't see any evidence of that right now . However, at least we have a plan for returning things to normal (and I think that's important: it gives us something to aim for, and keeps us motivated through the tough days ahead)