Path out of lockdown

by patrickkeating on 22 February, 2021

The Government has set out its route map for exiting Covid-19 national restrictions in England with a number of steps that will be followed over the next few months providing the virus remains under control and the vaccine programme continues apace.

Step 1

In Step 1, all children and students will return to face-to-face education in schools and colleges from 8 March.

Childcare and children’s supervised activities can also resume where necessary to enable parents to work or engage in similar activities.

Twice-weekly rapid testing for secondary and college pupils – in addition to regular testing for all teachers – will be introduced.

Higher Education students at English universities on practical courses can also return from 8 March.

People will be allowed to leave home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble, if they are eligible for one, or with one person from outside their household.

Care home residents will also be allowed one regular visitor.From 29 March outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed.

Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March but many restrictions will remain in place.

People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes.

Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons.

Holidays abroad will not be allowed, given it will remain important to manage the risk of imported variants and protect the vaccination programme.

The government has launched a new taskforce to review global travel which will report on 12 April.

Step 2

May be an image of text that says "STEP2 At least five weeks after Step 1,no earlier than 12 April. ጥተጥጥጥ Rule of or households outdoors No household mixing indoors. Indoor leisure (including gyms) open individually within household groups. Outdoor attractions, such zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas. Libraries and community centres. EEBRE Personal care premises. All etail. Outdoor hospitality. All children's activities, indoor parent child groups (up to 15 parents). Domestic overnight stays (household only). Self-contained accommodation (household only). Funerals (30) wakes, weddings, receptions 15). TICKET Minimise travel. No international holidays. Event pilots begin."

Step 2, which will be no earlier than 12 April, will see the opening of non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups); as will most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas.

Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.

Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors at Step 2 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’).

Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.

While funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners, the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.

Step 3

May be an image of text that says "STEP 3 At least five weeks after Step 2, no earlier than 17 May. Indoor entertainment and attractions. ጥተጥጥጥ 30 person limit outdoors. Rule of6 a two households indoors (subject to review). Domestic D overnight stays. Organised indoor adult sport. Most significant life events (30). Remaining outdoor entertainment (including performances). TICKET Remaining accommodation. Some large events (except for pilots) capacity limits apply. Indoor events: 1,000 50%. Outdoor other events: 4,000 or 50% Outdoor seated events: 10,000 or 25%. International travel subject review."

As part of Step 3, no earlier than 17 May, the government will look to continue easing limits on seeing friends and family wherever possible, allowing people to decide on the appropriate level of risk for their circumstances.

This means that most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted – although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will apply – we will keep under review whether it is safe to increase this.

As soon as possible and by no later than Step 3, they will also update the advice on social distancing between friends and family, including hugging. But until this point, people should continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble.

Most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able to reopen. In all sectors, COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and businesses may not cater for groups bigger than the legal limits.

Indoor hospitality will reopen – and as in Step 2, venues will not have to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks; nor will there be a curfew. Customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.Other indoor locations to open up in Step 3 include indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs; and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes.

The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number). In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.Finally, before Step 4 begins, the government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures that have been put in place to cut transmission. This will inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which the rules on 1 metre plus, the wearing of face coverings and other measures may be lifted. This will also inform guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete.

Step 4

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By Step 4 which will take place no earlier than 21 June, the government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact.They hope to reopen remaining premises, including nightclubs, and ease the restrictions on large events and performances that apply in Step 3. This will be subject to the results of a scientific Events Research Programme to test the outcome of certain pilot events through the spring and summer, where we will trial the use of testing and other techniques to cut the risk of infection. The same Events Research Programme will guide decisions on whether all limits can be removed on weddings and other life events.

You can read the full route map details and dates here: https://www.gov.uk/…/publ…/covid-19-response-spring-2021

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