As the four tests of easing lockdown are shown to be met, the government is continuing to take steps to ease lockdown rules.

Therefore, from 17 May:

• People can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors
• Six people or two households can meet indoors
• Care home residents can have up to five named visitors and greater freedoms to make low-risk visits
• Domestic overnight stays allowed with people not in your household or bubble
• Face coverings no longer needed by secondary school and college pupils in classrooms or communal areas, but twice weekly home testing for pupils remains
• Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can seat customers indoors
• Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can open
• Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and children’s play areas can open
• Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can restart
• Performances and large events can restart, but with limits on audience numbers
• Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen
• People will be able to travel abroad to green list countries without having to quarantine when they return
• Weddings, wedding receptions, wakes, funerals and christenings will be allowed with 30 people.

Social distancing with close family and friends will be a matter of personal judgement. But people are asked to remain cautious around close contact, like hugging.

Social distancing will remain in place in social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings. People will still need to wear face coverings on transport and in shops, unless they are exempt.

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Before proceeding to the final step, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous changes.

As the four tests of easing lockdown continue to be met, the government is continuing to take steps to ease lockdown rules.

Therefore, from 12 April:

• No indoor mixing of different households will be allowed.
• Non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms, nail salons, libraries, and outdoor attractions such as theme parks and zoos will be allowed to reopen.
• Outdoor hospitality can reopen, including pubs and restaurants – with the rule of six or a larger group from two households.
• Customers will not have to buy a substantial meal to have an alcoholic drink and there will be no curfew but people will have to be seated when ordering and eating or drinking.
• Two specified people can visit care home residents.
• Children can attend indoor children’s activities, including sport.
• Parent and child groups of up to 15 people (not counting children aged under five) can restart indoors.
• Self-catering holidays in the UK with your own household will be allowed.

Before proceeding to the next step, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous changes.

 

As the four tests of easing lockdown continue to be met, the government is continuing to take steps to ease lockdown rules.

Therefore, from 29 March:

• Up to six people from different households or a larger group from two households can meet outside, including 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.
• From this point, the government will drop the “Stay at Home” message and will instead encourage people to stay local wherever they can.
• People will still have to work from home where possible and no overseas travel, apart from necessary work, will be allowed.

Before proceeding to the next step, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous changes.

 

As Covid-19 infection rates are beginning to slow, the government is now taking steps to ease lockdown rules.

The first stage of easing will be split into two parts:

From 8 March:

• All schools and colleges in England will reopen, while all childcare can resume. Secondary school pupils will have to wear facemasks initially while staff in all schools are advised to wear masks. All secondary and college pupils will be tested twice a week, at school for the first two weeks then at home.
• All households with school children, members of their support and childcare bubbles, and those in related occupations will be encouraged to be tested regularly.
• One person will be able to meet one other person from another household outside for recreation, not just exercise. This includes meeting in private gardens and will mean two people can meet for a picnic or sit on a bench with a coffee but they cannot play tennis or golf.
• Care home residents in England will be allowed one regular visitor. They will be able to meet indoors and hold hands – but visitors must wear PPE and be tested beforehand.

From 29 March:

• Up to six people from different households or a larger group from two households can meet outside, including 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.
• From this point, the government will drop the “Stay at Home” message and will instead encourage people to stay local wherever they can.
• People will still have to work from home where possible and no overseas travel, apart from necessary work, will be allowed.

There will be four steps for easing restrictions. But before proceeding to each next step, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous changes.