BORIS Johnson has confirmed that all shops can reopen, and pubs can serve customers outdoors again, from next Monday - as the impact of the lockdown on York’s tourism industry was once again demonstrated today.

An Easter Monday Bank Holiday would normally see the city centre packed with visitors but at 3.40pm this afternoon, Parliament Street was almost deserted, with visitors deterred by the lack of cafes, pubs restaurants and museums, and all but essential shops.

The Prime Minister said that non-essential shops could re-open next Monday, as could hairdressers, gyms and zoos, while pubs, cafes and restaurants could again serve guests in outdoor gardens and patios.

Self-catering holidays can also resume under the roadmap out of lockdown.

Mr Johnson's comments came as York’s Covid rate fell yet again today- to just 21.8 cases per 100,000 population.

This compares with 670 at the height of the latest wave of the pandemic in January, and comes after only four new cases were confirmed in the City of York Council area in the previous 24 hours.

The rate in the North Yorkshire County Council area fell to 36.1 per 100,000, while in the East Riding of Yorkshire Council area it now stood at 47.2.