Boris Johnson has told the country that anyone who cannot work from home is ‘actively encouraged’ to go back to work.

In a speech tonight, he said this was a ‘change of emphasis’ that he hoped people would act on, including those in the construction industry.

‘We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must,’ he said.

‘We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.

‘And we want it to be safe for you to get to work. So you should avoid public transport if at all possible – because we must and will maintain social distancing, and capacity will therefore be limited.

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‘So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home.

‘And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces Covid-secure.

‘And when you do go to work, if possible do so by car or even better by walking or bicycle. But just as with workplaces, public transport operators will also be following Covid-secure standards.’

He also relaxed the rules surrounding exercise, saying that people could now go outside for ‘unlimited amounts’.

‘You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household,’ he said. 

‘You must obey the rules on social distancing and to enforce those rules we will increase the fines for the small minority who break them.’

He added that every day, the government would be monitoring transmission rates and progress made before being able to go further. 

Turning to when pupils could return to schools, he said there may be a phased return for primary school children at the earliest by June 1, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.

He stressed all of this is ‘conditional’ and depends on people observing social distancing.

More follows.

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