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Following huge public pressure, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce on Wednesday, June 15, that all zoos will be allowed to reopen as part of the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown.
In addition, all safari parks and drive-in cinemas will be allowed to reopen, meaning attractions such as Knowsley Safari Park can reopen, but the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks will still be forced to keep its doors closed.
Many zoos, including Chester Zoo, had warned the Government they were facing the real prospect of closing for good if they were unable to reopen soon.
Government rules on the coronavirus legislation had changed on June 1 so zoos and aquariums were specifically prevented from being allowed to reopen.
The next time the legislation was due to be reviewed was not until the end of this month, which had meant the animal attractions would not be able to reopen until July 4 at the very earliest.
With every day the zoos remained closed, that put them at further threat of running out of money. Chester Zoo revealed it was losing £1 million a month and faced the prospect of being £24 million in debt at the end of the year.
In addition, all safari parks and drive-in cinemas will be allowed to reopen, meaning attractions such as Knowsley Safari Park can reopen, but the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks will still be forced to keep its doors closed.
Many zoos, including Chester Zoo, had warned the Government they were facing the real prospect of closing for good if they were unable to reopen soon.
Government rules on the coronavirus legislation had changed on June 1 so zoos and aquariums were specifically prevented from being allowed to reopen.
The next time the legislation was due to be reviewed was not until the end of this month, which had meant the animal attractions would not be able to reopen until July 4 at the very earliest.
With every day the zoos remained closed, that put them at further threat of running out of money. Chester Zoo revealed it was losing £1 million a month and faced the prospect of being £24 million in debt at the end of the year.
