Claiming that the worst days are in the past for COVID-19 in the U.K., Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his intention to provide a “road map” for the country’s recovery next week. Johnson made this statement in his first appearance since leaving the hospital after contracting the novel coronavirus.

“For the first time, we are past the peak of this disease and on the downward slope,” Johnson said.

Johnson pledged that this “comprehensive plan” would help revive the U.K. economy, bring children back to schools, and make travel safer.

Before the country’s lockdown is eased, however, Johnson said that there are five tests to pass: ensuring that the NHS can handle demand, producing good evidence that deaths are declining, establish a declining infection rate, ensure the availability of tests and protective gear, and mitigating the potential of a second wave.

“We see the sunlight in the pasture ahead of us,” Johnson said. “It is vital we do not now lose control and run into second and bigger mountain.”

Johnson will face an uphill battle in his plans to rejuvenate the British economy. The International Monetary Fund predicts that most developed nations will experience a recession later in the year, with the British economy, in particular, shrinking by 6.5%. In January, by contrast, the IMF predicted a 1.4% growth in the country’s GDP.

The drop forecasted for the U.K. would be 4.2% worse than the one experienced in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and the worst annual drop since 1921.

To fight this potential downturn, the British government has implemented a furlough plan to keep unemployment from surpassing 4.8%, as well as a system of wage protections and loans to protect workers and small businesses.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that Britain was "past the peak" of the outbreak
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that Britain was "past the peak" of the outbreak 10 Downing Street / Andrew PARSONS
RELATED STORIES
Coronavirus United kingdom International Monetary Fund