ALL THE RULE CHANGES AS MORE BUSINESSES REOPEN
LOCKDOWN restrictions will be eased again from tomorrow as step two of the government’s lockdown roadmap commences.
From tomorrow a number of businesses will be allowed to welcome back customers.
Brits will be heading to shops, salons, gyms and pools, as well as beer gardens, following the changes.
The relaxation of the rules comes five weeks after the first step of the roadmap saw the reopening of schools and the return of limited social mixing on March 8.
A second stage of easing saw further social gatherings permitted and the return of outdoor sports on March 29.
Now, with the four tests still being met, the government will allow more businesses to reopen bringing a much-needed boost to the economy.
Ministers will be keeping a close eye on the data to determine whether step three of the roadmap, which is set to include the return of indoor social gatherings and foreign travel, can go ahead as planned in another five weeks, on May 17.
Here are all the changes in place in England from tomorrow.
Reopening of indoor settings
Indoor settings including non-essential shops, hair salons and beauty parlors, gyms and spas and libraries will all be allowed to reopen.
Saunas and steam rooms inside spas will have to remain closed.
Indoor settings should only be visited on your own, or with your household group or bubble.
Self-contained accommodation sites (i.e. ones that do not require any shared facilities) will be allowed to reopen for overnight stays for single household groups.
All businesses will have to ensure they have measures in place which make them Covid-secure, such as one-way systems and hygiene stations.
Face coverings are to be worn inside shops, shopping centers, salons and beauty parlors, libraries and other indoor attractions.
Reopening of outdoor settings
The majority of outdoor settings will be allowed to reopen, including outdoor hospitality, zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas and other drive-in events.
Hospitality venues will only be able to open for outdoor service, such as in a beer garden or terrace, but there will be no 10pm curfew this time around.
Alcoholic drinks will be allowed without a substantial meal but all orders will have to be made at the table.
Some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds will also be able to take place.
The rules on social contact outdoors - the rule of six or two household rule - will apply in these settings.
Parent and child groups
Childcare and supervised activities for kids will be permitted indoors as well as outdoors.
Parent and child groups taking place indoors will have a limit of up to 15 people, but that is not including any children under the age of five.
Care home visits
Two people will be allowed to visit loved ones inside care homes, with hand-holding allowed too.
Infants and children will not count as one of the two visitors.
Driving lessons resume
Driving lessons with instructors will be allowed to take place from tomorrow. Theory tests will also start back up again on this date.
Driving tests will restart later in the month, on April 22.
Limits on weddings and funerals
Funerals can continue with up to 30 people, while the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise from six to 15.