Just another manic Monday; Boris has unveiled his ‘roadmap’ for easing lockdown restrictions this evening after already promising that children will return to school by 8th March, so what exactly will you be able to do and when?
As well as re-opening schools, after school sport and activities will also return from 8th March.
From the same date, two people will be able to meet in outdoor public spaces, such as parks and share a picnic or enjoy a hot beverage together!!! WOOOHOO!
Further easing of restrictions will take place from 29th March, where two households with a maximum of six people, will be able to socialise outside in public spaces. People will be able to travel outside of their area too, although guidance will still remain in place and overnight stays will not be allowed.
Football pitches, basketball courts and tennis courts will also be able to reopen after 29th March.
These two phases of easing restrictions make up half of Boris’s roadmap out of this nightmare that we’re living.
From 12th April (at the earliest), shops, hairdressers and gyms will be permitted to reopen in England as well as outdoor hospitality, zoos, theme parks and indoor leisure facilities such as swimming pools.
Speaking about his roadmap, the PM said:
“Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step, and we will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe.”
Stage 3 of the roadmap will begin on 17th May which will allow two households to mix indoors and the rule of six will apply in hospitality settings like pubs and restaurants.
Cinemas, museums, performances and sporting events will also reopen on 17th May, although social distancing rules will remain in place.
For those getting married in the spring, you’ll be able to have up to 30 people at your wedding – the same rule applies to funerals and wakes.
Football fans will also be able to return to stadiums and it’s hoped that up to 10,000 people will be able to visit large outdoor seated venues again.
Stage four will start on 21st June and is when the Government hopes to lift most social contact rules as well as its ‘work from home’ guidance. It also hopes to allow venues like nightclubs to reopen and abolish limits on weddings and funerals.
Before each stage, ministers will carefully scrutinise the data to make sure that they’re able to continue to ease lockdown restrictions and it’s expected that the hands, face, space mantra will stay in place for some time yet.
In a statement last week, Downing Street also said that it was scrapping the controversial regional tiers due to the now “relatively uniform” spread of the virus.
The roadmap follows new Public Health data that indicates that vaccines have had a significant impact on the risk of serious illness.
What are your thoughts on the PM’s preliminary plans? Is he easing too fast or is he going too slow?
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