‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’, the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England has been published by the Government.
We have put together the key points from the 4 step reopening roadmap announced by the Prime Minister for local businesses. The government outlined key tests that will need to be passed before the next stage of reopening can move ahead, these are: the infection rates, vaccine effectiveness, hospitalisation and risks of new variants.
From 8 March – All schools will open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed. Recreation in an outdoor public spaces – such as a park – will be allowed between two people, meaning they would be allowed to sit down for a coffee, drink or picnic.
From 29 March – Outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed. It is understood this will include gatherings in private gardens. Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis or basketball courts will reopen and organised adult and children’s sport, such as grassroots football, will also return.
Secondary school pupils will be required to wear face coverings in classrooms and shared spaces like corridors.
At this point, the Stay at Home order will end, although many lockdown restrictions will remain. For example, you should continue to work from home where possible, and overseas travel remains banned, aside for a small number of reasons.
From 12 April: Major parts of the economy are permitted to reopen:
- Non-essential retail opens, hairdressers and public buildings like libraries and museums
- Hospitality venues can serve people outdoors only. Outdoor settings like alcohol takeaways, beer gardens, zoos and theme parks
- Indoor leisure like swimming pools and gyms – but only for use by people on their own or with their household.
- Self-contained holiday accommodation, such as self-catering lets and camp sites
- Funerals continue with up to 30 people, and weddings with up to 15 guests.
But wider social contact rules will continue to apply in all settings – meaning no indoor mixing between different households will be allowed.
Mr Johnson confirmed the end of hospitality curfews – and requirements to eat a substantial meal alongside alcohol.
From 17 May: If the data allows, will see the “rule of six” abolished for outdoor gatherings, replaced with a limit of 30 people.
- Two households can mix indoors – with the rule of six applied in hospitality settings like pubs
- Cinemas, hotels, performances and sporting events reopen – though social distancing remains
- Up to 10,000 spectators can attend the very largest outdoor seated venues like football stadiums
- Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions, funerals and wakes.
From 21 June: It is hoped all legal limits on social contact can be removed, with the final closed sectors of the economy reopened – such as nightclubs. This will also guide decisions on whether all limits can be removed on weddings and other life events.
The four conditions that must be met at each phase of lockdown easing are:
- The coronavirus vaccine programme continues to go to plan
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying with the virus or needing hospital treatment
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions
- New variants of the virus do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting restrictions
