New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
  2. The Staggers
30 April 2020

Boris Johnson commits to an exit strategy, but normality is some way off

The government's aim means that social distancing will be with us for a long time.

By Stephen Bush

The British government will publish its strategy for leaving the lockdown in England next week, Boris Johnson has announced.

The government is now confident that the rate of reproduction, known as R, and meaning the number of people infected by each individual with coronavirus is now below one. As Tony Yates puts it, among human beings, R is at one when a couple has two or more children: any fewer than that and the overall size of the population will decline and eventually die out.

Keeping the rate of R below one prevents another peak in coronavirus cases and prevents the NHS being overwhelmed. But there is, at present, no reliable way to do that other than to maintain a fairly strict degree of social distancing: so while the current restrictions may be loosened, the government’s road map will not be a road to normality or anything like that.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
The UK’s skills shortfall is undermining growth
<strong>What kind of tax reforms would stimulate growth?</strong>
How to end the poverty premium