Boris Johnson's road map for lockdown easing is set to reach another step on Monday, March 29.
The changes are still part of Step 1, which .
Earlier this month, children returned to school, care home residents were allowed one regular visitor and we were allowed to leave homes to meet one other for recreation outdoors, not just for exercise.
As part of Step 1, there will be further limited changes from March 29, the week most schools break up for the Easter Break.
Rules from March 29
The Stay at Home order, in which you could only go out if you had a "reasonable excuse", will end and is expected to be replaced by a new Stay Local directive.
This means the restrictions on why you can leave your home will no longer apply but you'll need to minimise travel and remain in the local area unless there is a good reason for going further afield.
The Government defines local as your village, town or the part of a city where you live.
At present, people in England can now have an outdoor coffee or picnic with their household or support bubble, or with just one person from outside their household.
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But from March 29, this will be relaxed to permit outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households.
And whereas outdoor exercise is currently restricted to public places, from March 29 you can also meet people in private gardens too.
You'll still have to stay two metres apart from anyone not in your household - meaning the people you live with - or your support bubble.
Outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, golf courses and bowling greens, will reopen on March 29. This also includes open-air swimming pools.
Formally organised outdoor sports – for adults and under 18s - can also restart and will not be subject to the limits on gatherings but should comply with guidance issued by national governing bodies, the roadmap says.
This means Sunday league football can kick off once again.
All these places will be permitted to open if they are outdoors only:
- gyms
- swimming pools
- sports courts (such as tennis and basketball courts)
- golf courses, including mini golf
- water sports venues
- climbing walls
- driving and shooting ranges
- riding arenas at riding centres
- archery venues
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People can use these venues in a group of six people, or with members of up to two households.
At this step, formally organised outdoor sport will also return - this can include a larger number of participants, provided that appropriate steps are taken to make it COVID-Secure in line with the law.
Indoor facilities, such as changing rooms, should not be used at this time, although toilet facilities can be accessed. At this stage, these gatherings must only include participants - not spectators.
Businesses eligible to host childcare and supervised activities for children will now be able to host all outdoor children’s activities, and outdoor parent-and child groups for up to 15 people (not counting those aged under five).
Lockdown road map explained
What happens next?
Step two of lockdown easing plans comes into effect no earlier than April 12.
Non-essential retail will reopen. This will include but not be limited to:
- clothing stores and tailors
- charity and antique shops
- homeware and carpet stores
- showrooms (such as for vehicles as well as kitchens and bathrooms)
- electronic goods and mobile phone shops
- retail travel agents
- photography studios
- remaining auction houses and markets
- tobacco and vape stores
- betting shops (subject to additional COVID-Secure measures, such as limiting the use of gaming machines).
- car washes (except for automatic car washes that are already open)
Personal care facilities and close contact services will reopen. This will include:
- hair, beauty and nail salons
- body and skin piercing services
- tattoo studios
- spas and massage centres (except for steam rooms and saunas)
- holistic therapy (including acupuncture, homeopathy, and reflexology)
- tanning salons
Indoor sports and leisure facilities will reopen. This will include at:
- gyms and leisure centres
- sports courts
- swimming pools
- dance studios and fitness centres
- driving and shooting ranges
- riding arenas
- archery venues
- climbing wall centres
Self-contained holiday accommodation in which all facilities (including for sleeping, catering, bathing, and indoor lobbies and corridors for entry and exit) are restricted to exclusive use of a single household/support bubble will reopen.
Outdoor areas at hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs, including in member’s clubs) can reopen, including for takeaway alcohol. These venues may allow customers to use toilets located inside. At any premises serving alcohol, customers will be required to order, be served and eat/drink while seated (“table service”). Venues will be prohibited from providing shared smoking equipment such as shisha pipes.
Outdoor attractions will reopen at:
- adventure parks and activities
- animal attractions (such as at zoos, safari parks and aquariums)
- drive in events, such as for cinemas, theatres, and other performances.
- film studios
- funfairs and fairgrounds
- model villages
- museums and galleries
- skating rinks
- theme parks
- trampolining parks
- water and aqua parks
Public buildings, such as community halls and centres, and libraries, can reopen.
Businesses eligible to host childcare and supervised activities for children will now be able to host these activities (including sport) for all children, regardless of circumstances.
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Permitted businesses operating in otherwise closed attractions (such as a gift shop or a takeaway kiosk at a museum) may only open where they are a self-contained unit and can be accessed directly from the street.
Outdoor gatherings or events, organised by a business, charity, public body or similar organisation, can be organised, subject to specific conditions: that they comply with COVID-Secure guidance including taking reasonable steps to limit the risk of transmission, complete a related risk assessment; and ensure that those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted by the social contact limits (unless another exemption exists, such as for work purposes, or supervised activities for children). This could enable spectators at a grassroots sports match or a village fete, provided people do not mix beyond groups of 6 people or two households.
Before proceeding to each step of the lockdown road map, the Government will examine the data to assess the impact of the previous steps.
This assessment will be based on four tests:
- The success of the vaccination programme
- Evidence that vaccines are reducing hospitalisations and deaths
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
- Assessment of any new strains of Covid, what are known as 'Variants of Concern' (VOC)
What do you think of the lockdown easing plans? Let us know in the comments section below