Zoos, drive-in cinemas and safari parks to reopen in England from Monday

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Zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas are to be given the green light to reopen in England from June 15, as lockdown measures in the UK continue to be eased.

Boris Johnson will update the nation on the next phase of the process on Wednesday as the Government ramps up efforts to kick-start the economy while minimising the rate of coronavirus transmission.

The Prime Minister will tell the daily Downing Street press briefing that zoos they can reopen next week provided they uphold social-distancing rules.

He will also announce the easing of restrictions on outdoor attractions where people remain in their cars, such as safari parks and drive-in cinemas, thanks to the lower risk of spreading Covid-19 in the open air.

A Downing Street official said: “People are continuing to make huge sacrifices to reduce the spread of coronavirus and avoid a second spike, but we know it is tough and where we can safely open up more attractions, and it is supported by the science, we will do so.

“This is by necessity a careful process, but we hope the reopening of safari parks and zoos will help provide families with more options to spend time outdoors while supporting the industry caring for these incredible animals.”

The announcement will come after London Zoo and other institutions across the nation warned they may face permanent closure if they were forced to remain closed.

The PM’s father, Stanley Johnson, had joined calls for zoos to “reopen as soon as possible” after they were ordered to shut when the lockdown was imposed on March 23.

Though the easing will be a relief, zoos will be told that they must not reopen indoor exhibitions, such as reptile houses, and must ensure amenities including cafes are takeaway only.

On Tuesday, international conservation charity Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which runs London and Whipsnade zoos, said it was struggling due to dwindling income and rising costs, while it had also been turned down for a bank loan on the “misunderstanding” the Government would help.

Chester Zoo bosses has also warned it is “at risk of extinction” and could end the year £24 million in debt.

In response to the announcement, ZSL director general Dominic Jermey said he was delighted, adding: “We are waiting to hear more details from the Government, but our zoos are raring to go as soon as we are given the go-ahead.

“We expect to have tickets ready to book by Friday – and everyone will need to book so we can manage capacity. We hope the support we’ve seen so far for our zoos translates to visitors coming in to support us further.”

Andrew Hall, spokesman for Biaza – British and Irish Association for Zoos and Aquariums, said: “Biaza is obviously delighted that zoos and safari parks have been given the flexibility to reopen.

“But as a sector, we are not out of the woods. Aquariums are still closed, and zoos and safari parks have taken a real hit. For some zoos, particularly those reliant on tourism, reopening isn’t going to be financially viable for them.

London Zoo under Coronavirus lockdown

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“It’s helpful today but it’s not the full answer to the challenges we face.

“We know that as a sector, zoos, aquariums and safari parks will be struggling, especially with limited entry, so we do still need the support of Government – but we’re very pleased about today’s announcement.”

He added: “Zoos and aquariums in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will still be facing significant challenges and we will be working hard to achieve positive outcomes in these nations.”

London and Whipsnade zoos have put in social-distancing measures including strictly limited capacity, one-way routes, new signage, and increased hand-washing facilities to make the venues safe for visitors.

Edward Perry, managing director of Knowsley Safari, said: “Reopening safaris and zoos on 15 June is very good news, but we feel it should have been sooner.

“Knowsley Safari has been ready for the past week to safely open to the public and we still can’t understand why it’s been OK for people to jump in their cars to go and get Big Macs, but not to come and see our big cats.

“After being shut for such a long period, every day really does count in terms of ticket sales and generating much-needed revenue to care for over 700 animals.

“At least we now have clarity about when we can open and very much look forward to welcoming the public back next week.”

In other developments:

- ONS data released on Tuesday showed there had been more than 63,500 excess deaths in the UK since the outbreak began, and analysis by the PA news agency showed the number of fatalities involving Covid-19 in the UK is now just less than 52,000.

- Figures also show less than a fifth of deaths registered in the week ending May 29 in England and Wales involved coronavirus - the lowest proportion since the week lockdown was imposed.

- Professor Clifford Stott, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies' (Sage) sub-committee on behaviour, said the Government was being "far too slow" to communicate major changes in coronavirus policy to the people charged with implementing them.

- People in Wales have been advised to wear face coverings when using public transport but it will not be mandatory.

- Nicola Sturgeon announced an expert group is to be established to study the effects of Covid-19 on minority ethnic communities in Scotland.

Meanwhile, projections by the NHS Confederation show that the combined effects of keeping up social distancing, the backlog of treatments and challenges around staffing mean the list is expected to rise from around 4.2 million currently to around 10 million by Christmas.

The confederation, which represents health and care leaders, said the figures came from its most "realistic" scenario, which assumes the health service makes a steady return to full capacity within the next 12 months.

The pessimistic scenario assumes a second wave of Covid-19 and a lack of treatments or a vaccine, pushing the waiting list to around 11 million by the end of the year.

The most optimistic scenario assumes a faster return to normal, where the waiting list will be around eight million by the end of the year.

The confederation published a new report warning the health service in England "faces an uphill battle" as it continues to manage thousands of sick and recovering Covid-19 patients while also trying to restart services such as those for cancer, stroke and heart disease.

The health leaders called on the Government to prepare the public not to expect the same level of service for many months, adding that some staff were so exhausted and traumatised from caring for coronavirus patients that they would need support.

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