Get ready for your first trip to the pub in three months
HAIRDRESSERS, shops and beer gardens can reopen on Monday for the first time in more than three months as England takes a major step towards the end of lockdown.
Boris Johnson said he is looking forward to a pint of beer next week as he last night confirmed the next stage in his roadmap for easing restrictions.
The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference the success of the vaccine rollout means he is ‘sticking like glue’ to his plan to unlock.
‘All the data that I can see suggests to me that we have no reason to deviate from it,’ he said.
It means large swathes of the economy that have been closed since at least the beginning of January when the third national lockdown was announced can finally resume trading.
High street retailers, hairdressers, barbers, beauty salons and nail bars are on the list of premises that can open their doors from Monday. In some parts of the country, including London and much of the South East, these have been shut since the week before Christmas – meaning shops were not able to have Boxing Day sales.
People in these places will not have been able to have a haircut for 16 weeks, while those in the rest of the country will have waited 14 weeks.
Hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants will be able to provide outdoor service.
The requirement for a substantial meal to be served with alcohol has been ditched, along with the 10pm curfew, but people will still have to remain seated while eating and drinking.
This means, for example, drinkers will not be able to stand together in groups in beer gardens or on the street outside pubs. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will be allowed to open their doors, along with public buildings such as libraries and community centres.
Outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas will also be permitted to resume business. People will be told they can only visit indoor places such as shops and leisure centres alone or with members of their households, while in outdoor settings such as beer gardens, the limit is either six people or two households.
Weddings, outdoor receptions, and commemorative events such as wakes will be limited to up to 15 attendees.
Overnight stays away from home will be allowed from next week and self- catered accommodation and campsites can reopen, although guests staying together must be from the same household or support bubble.
The Prime Minister last night confirmed his four tests had been met for moving to the next stage of his lockdown easing roadmap – the continued success of the vaccine rollout, the impact it is having on hospitalisations and deaths, the NHS not being overwhelmed, and no new variants of concern.
He told the press conference: ‘On Monday I will be going to the pub myself – and cautiously but irreversibly raising a pint of beer to my lips.’ But Mr Johnson added: ‘We can’t be complacent. We can see the waves of sickness affecting other countries and we have seen how this story goes.
‘We still don’t know how strong the vaccine shield will be when cases begin to rise, as I’m afraid that they will, and that’s why we are saying please get your vaccine, or your second dose, when your turn comes.’
Under the next stage of the lockdown roadmap from May 17, hospitality venues are expected to be allowed to start serving customers outside, while cinemas, hotels, and children’s play areas will also re-open.
Leisure centres and gyms in Wales have been told they will have to wait until at least May 10 before they can reopen.
From next Monday, non-essential shops and beauty salons will be allowed to open their doors.
Students at universities, further education colleges and training centres will also return for face-to-face teaching.
Travel between Wales and the rest of the UK and Ireland will resume. Cafes, pubs and restaurants can serve outdoors from April 26 and funfairs and theme parks will also be able to open.
‘We can’t be complacent’