United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed restaurants, pubs and shops will open again as England’s lockdown is eased next week, but the ban on foreign travel may remain for longer.
The earliest date for resuming non-essential international travel will be May 17 and officials warned Monday that a further delay could be required if coronavirus infections continue to surge elsewhere in the world.
According to Wrldometer, the U.K has recorded over 4.3 million coronavirus cases with more than 126,800 deaths and at least 3.9 million recoveries.
The ease on lockdown restrictions come against the back of international flight sanctions by the U.K over surging coronavirus cases.
U.K economic stability
In the age of the coronavirus pandemic, U.K’s monthly gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 1.2 percent during December 2020 but remained 6.3 percent below February 2020 levels.
In December 2020, services grew by 1.7 percent following the easing of restrictions in many parts of the UK early in the month, while construction fell by 2.9 percent; production and manufacturing growth was more subdued at 0.2 percent and 0.3 percent respectively.
Quarter 4 (Oct to December) 2020 saw a rise of 1.0 percent in GDP following a rise of 16.1 percent in Quarter 3 (July to September) 2020; however, GDP in Quarter 4 2020 was 6.6 percent below Quarter 4 2019 levels.
In Quarter 4 2020, there were rises from each of the main components, with services at 0.6 percent, production at 1.8 percent and construction at 4.6 percent.
In 2020, headline GDP declined by 9.9 percent, which is more than twice the fall in 2009.
U.K-Kenya travel row
The latest country to go up in arms with the U.K over travel restrictions is Kenya, after Kenya Airways (KQ) suspended all flights to the U.K.
In a statement, KQ said the move was due to the government directive.
It is retaliation after the U.K blacklisted Kenya from countries where citizens will be subjected to mandatory quarantine.
U.K was concerned over Kenya’s open border with Tanzania, which has not been tallying coronavirus cases after declaring the region, coronavirus free.
Kenya has been hesitant to restrict movement on the Tanzania border, fearing retaliation by Dar es Salam.
