A HIGH majority of people in Bracknell think it is 'too soon' for pubs to reopening today (July 4).

In a poll created by The News, 38 readers voted on whether or not they would be heading to their locals this weekend to enjoy a drink for the first time in months, or if they would be avoiding.

Of these, 29 voted 'No, too soon to open'.

A further nine chose the option 'Yes - I cannot wait.'

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Bracknell News:

The government announced that pubs, along with hair salons, restaurants, parks, cinemas and more, would be able to reopen today as lockdown is gradually eased.

Gyms and leisure facilities must remain closed.

Boris Johnson has urged the public not to "blow" the progress made in tackling coronavirus when lockdown restrictions are eased.

The Prime Minister said he hoped the reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers in England on Saturday would allow people to enjoy themselves, but in a "safe way".

It comes as the government announced that quarantine restrictions for people returning to or visiting England from destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Germany will be lifted from July 10.

But the US and Greece will be excluded from a list of around 60 countries and overseas territories that English holidaymakers can visit without needing to self-isolate on their return.

Mr Johnson said the government was making "progress" in reducing the incidence of Covid-19 in England, but faced questions on why pubs were being opened on a Saturday, which typically sees a higher rate of alcohol-related issues for police and the NHS.

In an interview with LBC Radio, the PM was asked whether he only "hoped" it would be safe. He said: "It's not on hope, it's based on a clear understanding of the statistical risks that we now face as a country.

"We've progressed thanks to the efforts of the British people from an incidence of the disease at about one in 400 a few weeks ago to maybe one in 2,200 today.

"You're appreciably less likely now to be in close proximity to someone who has it than you were even a couple of weeks ago.

"We're making progress, we aimed for July 4, we wanted to set ourselves a target, we think we're in good shape but my message is let's not blow it."

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In other developments:

- Mr Johnson said gyms would be able to reopen in a "couple of weeks", and vowed to try to get theatres going "as fast as we possibly can".

- The Prime Minister urged people to wear face coverings when in confined spaces with people they do not normally see, revealing he has one with a Florence Nightingale pattern.

- The Office for National Statistics said almost 20,000 care home residents have died with coronavirus up to June 12.