The Government has today published a roadmap for ending lockdown and easing restrictions.
There will be four stages, beginning with schools on March 8th, and then additional changes before Easter as part of 'Stage One'.
The further steps give 'earliest possible' dates for changes, subject to the health situation remaining stable.
Things like gyms and hairdressers might be expected in early April, leading to things like indoor entertainment and overnight stays away from home in May.
The PM has given June 21st as the potential date for the end of all restrictions.
Further reviews are taking place about timescales on measures like masks, social distancing and international travel.
Key Dates:
STEP ONE - 8 MARCH:
✏️All pupils and students to return to school
☕People will be able to meet one person from outside their household for outdoor recreation – such as a coffee on a bench or a picnic in a park
29 MARCH:
🌳The Rule of Six will return outdoors, including in private gardens
🎾Outdoor sports facilities will be able to reopen
⚽Organised outdoor sports will resume
STEP TWO - 12 APRIL (If the four tests are met):
🛍️Non-essential retail will reopen
💈Personal care and hairdressers will reopen
🏋️Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will re-open
🍺Pubs and restaurants can reopen for outdoor service
🦒Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas will re-open
🛏️Holiday-lets will re-open - but only for use by individual guests or household groups
STEP THREE - 17 MAY (if the four tests are met):
🏡People will be able to see their friends and family indoors - subject to the Rule of Six or the meeting of two households
🍻Pubs and restaurants will re-open for indoor service
📽️Cinemas will re-open
🏨Hotels, hostels, and B&Bs will reopen for guests
🎭Theatres and concert halls will re-open
🏟️Sports stadia will re-open subject to capacity limits
STEP FOUR - 21 JUNE (if the four tests are met):
🤝We will aim to remove all legal limits on social contact
⛪Remove all limits on weddings and other life events
🍹Re-open everything up to and including nightclubs
🏟️Enable large events such as theatre performances and sports events without the capacity limits of Step 3
IN ADDITION - THE GOVERNMENT IS LAUNCHING 4 REVIEWS IMMEDIATELY:
😷The Government will assess how long we need to maintain social distancing and face masks. This will inform updated guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete
✈️A second review will consider the resumption of international travel. The Global Travel Taskforce will report by 12 April so that people can plan for the summer
📝The third review will consider the potential role of Covid-status certification in helping venues to open safely. This review will be mindful of the many concerns surrounding exclusion, discrimination and privacy
🏟️And the fourth review will look at the safe return of major events.
