- The Aim:
All current lockdown restrictions to be lifted by the 21st June 2021 if the following Conditions below are met.
8 March – Stage One Part One
All current lockdown rules apply plus :
- All schools and colleges will reopen with testing of pupils
- Face coverings for staff and parents in primary schools
- Face coverings for secondary school students
- Universities open for practical courses
- Wraparound childcare to return for vulnerable pupils
- Where needed for parents to work, support groups, seeking medical care
- Two people from different households can meet outside for recreation, eg coffee & park bench picnic meetups is ok combined with exercise
- One nominated person can visit care homes
- Will need PPE, lateral flow test needed, physical contact to a minimum
- Weddings attended by up to six people can take place
29 March – Stage One Part Two
All current lockdown rules apply apart from the restrictions above which are lifted, plus:
- Up to six people can meet outside which can include one other household
- Stay at home rule to end but stay in if you can
- Outdoor sports centres and outdoor sports clubs to reopen including golf, tennis, basketball
- Parent and children groups to reopen up to 15 people outdoors
- Indoor groups reopen for vulnerable children and when parents need groups to go to work
4 April – Stage One Part Two
Easter
- All other university courses to open again – exact date to be announced.
12 April – Stage Two Part One
All current lockdown rules apply apart from the restrictions above which are lifted, plus:
- All shops allowed to open including hairdressers
- Restaurants and pubs to open for sitting in outdoor areas, with alcohol
- Gyms and spas can open for individuals and households
- Indoor play activities open for children with up to 15 parents or guardians
- Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas open
- Libraries and community centres open
- Weddings up to 15 people can take place
17 May – Stage Three
All current lockdown rules apply apart from the restrictions above which are lifted, plus:
- Up to 30 people can meet up outdoors
- Six people or two households can meet indoors
- Pubs, restaurants and cafes can seat customers indoors
- Up to 30 people can meet at life events like weddings or christenings or attend funerals
- All remaining outdoor entertainment can open
- All indoor entertainment including museums can open
- Adult exercise classes and sports groups indoors can open
- Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can open
- International travel and flying abroad can open
- Large events indoors up to 1000 people or half capacity, whichever is lower
- Large outdoor events up to 4000 people or half capacity, whichever is lower
- Large venues more than 40000 capacity: up to 10000 people can attend
- Driving lessons can resume
21 June – Stage Four
All current lockdown rules apply apart from the restrictions above which are lifted, plus:
- All legal limits on social restrictions lifted
- No limits on large gatherings, expect Covid-19 testing in order to reduce social distancing need
- Nightclubs can open
Conditions that need to be met for restrictions to be lifted:
- Successful vaccine program roll-out continues
- Vaccines are reducing the number of people dying or becoming hospitalised with Covid-19
- Infection rates do not cause a rise in hospital admissions
- New variants do not cause excessive risk when restrictions lifted
England’s Roadmap plan – the outlook
There are 5 weeks between each step to give scientists and ministers time to confirm whether they want to proceed to lifting the next step of restrictions. The government may add in an additional delay period if necessary, to fulfill the ‘conditions that must be met’.
“Cases rising so high that the NHS risks being overwhelmed would lead to a pause” stated The Telegraph on Twitter last night. The Prime Minister spoke of the threat of new variants posing potential delays to progressing through the stages. Lewis Goodall remarked on twitter how Johnson warned that “we cannot rule out imposing local or regional restrictions of evidence suggests they are necessary.” (3) (4)
We all need to “play our part” to wear masks, get the vaccine when contacted by the NHS and follow the guidelines for everything. This is in order to be able to reopen again and social contact to resume outside our own households, according to this new timetable set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night.
“Cautiously but irreversibly” is how Boris Johnson described his approach. “There is no route to a zero Covid world” and he described this plan as a “one way road to freedom”.
“A first dose to every adult by the end of July” the Prime Minister promised cheered by recent good scientific data news on the positive impact the 17.5 million vaccinations that have now been completed are having on infection rates.
“Spring and summer should be ‘seasons of hope’ from which “we will not go back” announced Johnson last night in Westminster.
(1) ‘What’s the roadmap for lifting lockdown?’ BBC News 23 February ‘What’s the roadmap for lifting lockdown?’ BBC News
(2) ‘Covid-19: Everyone ‘has to play their part’ in lockdown easing, says Hancock’ BBC News 23 February ‘Covid-19: Everyone ‘has to play their part’ in lockdown easing, says Hancock’ BBC News
(3) The Telegraph on Twitter @The Telegraph The Telegraph
(4) Lewis Goodall on Twitter @LewisGoodall Lewis Goodall, Journalist and Author