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.
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
