The Government has announced a delay of four weeks to step 4 of the roadmap in order to suppress the virus and protect the NHS.

Responding to the news, City of London Corporation Policy Chair Catherine McGuinness, said:

“This is deeply disappointing news for the many London businesses desperate to return to something like normality without social contact restrictions, but we must be guided by the data.

“We urge policymakers to keep the decision under close review, based on the evidence, so that the capital can return to being a vibrant and thriving hub as soon as possible.“We need a strong economy to help pay for the vast amount of support provided since the pandemic began. Businesses urgently require clarity on the timeline for returning to workplaces.

“In the meantime, we continue to urge all Londoners to follow the rules to protect the NHS and save lives by reducing the transmission of COVID.”