Boris reveals that you May hug again

It is the news many people have been waiting for. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed which further lockdown restrictions in England will ease on Monday.

Pubs and restaurants will once again be able to welcome customers back through their doors. There’ll be no more shivering outside over your pint or glass of wine. Cinemas, museums, theatres and concert halls will be allowed to reopen, albeit with capaity limits. And SAFC fans will be able to return to the Stadium of Light to cheers on the Lads – a crucial boost for the Black Cats’ play-off hopes – even if, like indoor venues, there will be restirctions on how many supporters can attend games. And, of course, we can hug. The PM has confirmed people will have the choice on whether or not to remain two metres from family or friends, meaning hugs and handshakes can happen. That will be music to the ears of many families who have had to limit contact for so long. The urge to embrace a loved one after such a long time will be too much for most of us to resist. But it comes with a plea – make sure you’ve been tested for Covid before hugging and consider keeping face masks on if you are no longer adhering to social distancing.

With the PM also confirming foreign holidays can resume and that greater numbers wlll once again be allowed at weddings and funerals, people will hope we are now taking a big step back towards normality. It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this position.

But let’s all hope it will be a happy Monday and that life, as we knew it, is starting to return to something like it used to be.