‘One-way road to freedom’
PM BORIS JOHNSON MAPS OUT THE STEPS NEEDED TO LEAD THE COUNTRY OUT OF LOCKDOWN –
BORIS Johnson has announced his plan to release England from the third national lockdown.
The Prime Minister’s ‘cautious’ roadmap for ending the coronavirus lockdown will go ahead if four key tests are met:
■ Number of vaccines given;
■ Evidence that vaccines are reducing both deaths and hospital admissions;
■ The NHS is not overwhelmed or close to being;
■ An assessment of the risks of new virus variants.
Should the tests be met, here is what you will and will not be allowed to do in step one of the roadmap out of lockdown.
The Prime Minister said the roadmap is “cautious but irreversible” in his speech to the Commons, repeating his hope that this will be the final lockdown needed in England.
He added: “We’re setting out a one-way road to freedom.”
All schools and all pupils will return to school on March 8, a change from the expected phased re-opening many headteachers and unions had called for.
Secondary school pupils will be offered two tests per week and breakfast and afterschool clubs can also reopen. Children’s outdoor sports and activities can also restart, meaning school-run outdoor clubs can resume, to help parents to work.
Students on university courses requiring practical teaching, specialist facilities or on-site assessments will also return.
All others will need to continue learning online, with a review on the possibility of returning by the end of the Easter holidays.
Two adults from different households will be allowed to meet outside socially, to enjoy a coffee, picnic or drinks in public spaces, as part of the easing of lockdown.
Those living in care homes will be allowed one designated visitor, who will be tested before entry and will need to wear PPE on site. The government has confirmed that visitors will be allowed to hold hands, but should avoid close contact.
From March 29, which is also the first Monday of the Easter holidays for many children and families, outdoor gatherings for up to six people or two households meeting will be allowed.
This can be both in public spaces, such as parks, or private gardens and means that families will be able to reunite before Easter.
The cautious plan is reliant on assessment and analysis of the data around the Government’s four key tests.
Outdoor sports for adults will also resume, including tennis, basketball and open air swimming pools. Formally organised sports will also be allowed to re-start, such as grassroots football, subject to guidance.
The Prime Minister added that from March 29 people would no longer be legally required to stay at home, but many lockdown restrictions will remain.
People will still be required to work from home where they can and avoid travel wherever possible.
Outdoor activities are being focused on as the risk of spreading the virus is significantly lower outdoors than indoors.
There will be at least five weeks between each step in easing restrictions, to allow four weeks to assess the impact of the previous step’s lifting, and one week’s notice before reopening to businesses affected.
This means the next lifting of restrictions could happen on April 12, with an announcement at least seven days in advance.
Families and friends will still not be allowed to meet up indoors under step one of the relaxation of restrictions.
Gyms will not be reopening in March, nor will non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants. Non-essential retail, hairdressers, nail salons and public buildings will open in Step 2 on April 12 , if the four tests allow.
Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and holiday lets for individual household groups will also re-open on April 12 if the tests allow.
Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to open outdoors, and there will be no curfew, with the Prime Minister adding: “The scotch egg debate will be over because there will be no requirement for alcohol to be accompanied by a substantial meal.”
Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas will also open on April 12, alongside public libraries and community centres.
Step 3 will begin no earlier than the May 17. Most restrictions on meeting outdoors will be lifted here, subject to a limit of 30.
In Step 3 the rule of six will return indoors, with two households allowed to meet inside, subject to the same conditions.
Pubs and restaurants will be reopened indoors, alongside cinemas, children’s play areas, hotels, hostels and B&Bs. Theatres and concert halls will re-open their doors and some sports areas will be allowed fans.
Step 4 will begin no earlier than June 21. The Government aims to remove all legal limits on social contact at this point.
Weddings, nightclubs and large events such as theatre performances will have audience restrictions lifted, potentially using testing to limit the risk of infection.
Progress towards these further steps depends on conditions around the four key tests, and the impact on school reopening on these.
There will also be four other reviews on the ongoing need for social distancing and face masks; on international travel, reporting by April 12 to allow people to plan for summer; Covid status certification in helping venues to open safely.; and the safe return of major events.