Boris Johnson visits local businesses in Cornwall as he makes £23m announcement for Truro
The PM says it will help Cornwall to bounce back better from the pandemic
Last updated 7th Apr 2021
The Prime Minister has been on a visit to Cornwall after announcing a £23m deal for Truro.
Boris Johnson says the multi-million pound investment will help Cornwall to build back better from the pandemic.
He says the £23.6 million Deal for Truro will help transform Cornwall’s capital into a Connected River City and support its vision of becoming a modern economic, cultural and green capital for its residents and the wider community by 2030.
Prime Minister announces £23m deal for Truro to boost economy, create jobs and new homes
Among his stops was a visit to Lemon Street Market in Truro, where he met local business owners to talk about their plans for reopening.
During his visit to Cornwall the PM was asked about Covid certificates and whether they will apply from June 21st rather than earlier.
He said: “It’s just very important for everybody to understand the priority is to vaccinate as many people as we can across the whole of the UK. That’s what we’re doing. It is going well, so far. And I thank people for coming forward to be vaccinated.
“We do believe it is building a defensive shield in our population against the virus. That’s pretty clear from the evidence, we’ve done getting on for 32 million jabs now, and many, many people have now had their second jab as well. So they have a very high degree of immunity. And that’s a great thing to see, and that’s the priority.
“You won’t need any kind of you know certificate from Monday.
“I’m here in Cornwall, we’re going to be looking at the opening of the holiday lets sector, which will be opening up from Monday, as well as beer gardens, shops are going to be open and we’re going to be talking to some of the shopkeepers, nobody’s going to need any kind of you know, certificate to go into a shop – and the same applies to May 17, when we’re going to be opening restaurants, inside restaurants, inside pubs, all that if we can continue, as I hope we can, with the road map that we have set out. No plan for any kind of certificate there.
“But clearly, it is going to be responsible for any government to look at the possibility of making sure that we can continue to open up all sectors of the economy in a safe way down the rest of this year and, you know, we will look at all possibilities.
“But I have absolutely no doubt that we will continue with the road map that we set out in a safe and secure way, but nobody should think that there’s any need for certificates of any kind, either on April 12 or May 17.”
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister
It comes as leading scientists say getting the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is still safe, despite now advising that under 30s are offered an alternative one.
A potential link between the jab and rare blood clots has been identified in younger people - but we're told the benefits still far outweigh the risks.
Boris Johnson said the changes in the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine would not force a change in the road map out of lockdown.
During his visit to Cornwall, he said: “I’m massively grateful to the MHRA and the JCVI, they’ve done a fantastic job for our country throughout the pandemic, and they continue to do so.
“And of course, we will be following their guidance completely.
“These vaccines are safe, they’ve saved many thousands of lives and people should come forward to get their jabs and we’ll make sure that they get the right jabs.
“And of course, I don’t see any reason at this stage at all to think we need to deviate from the road map. And we’re also very secure about our supply.”
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister