Today, plans were finally announced for the roadmap out of lockdown for England.
The plans, which were announced by Boris Johnson in an address to the commons at 3:30pm, were described as ‘cautious but irreversible’.
The Pfizer vaccine has seen a 75% reduction in Covid cases from those who have had the vaccine (not enough data yet for Astrazeneca) and there is hope that with the continued rollout of the vaccination that this will be the last time that England is placed under lockdown. However, the prime minister said that they couldn’t rule out enforcing restrictions again if new variants are cause for concern.
The easing of lockdown restrictions will start from 8 March and there will be at least five weeks in between each step – four weeks to ensure that there has been a significant reduction in infection rates and another week’s notice for any changes for businesses.
This roadmap is based on four overriding tests. Firstly, that the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully. That evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated and that infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS. Finally, it is dependent on the assessment of risks not being fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.
All being well, here are the plans for easing of lockdown and, importantly, when we’ll be able to go to the pub.
From 8 March
Alongside schools reopening and start of care home visits, from 8th March, people will be able to meet outdoors with one person from another household.
Whereas beforehand, individuals could only meet another person outside for exercise, you will now be able to sit on a bench with a coffee or have a picnic.
By this point, those in the top four priority groups should have been vaccinated. There will also be twice weekly testing of pupils in secondary schools.
From 29 March
While there will normally be five weeks in between the easing of restrictions, from 29 March what Boris Johnson described as the second part of the Step One will begin – to coincide with when schools go on Easter holidays.
The rule of six will return for outdoor gatherings, including private gardens, with a maximum of two households.
Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and golf can also resume from this date.
Importantly, from this date, people will no longer be legally required to stay at home. However, people are still encouraged to minimise travel and work from home where possible.
From 12 April
Now, we get to the good stuff. From 12 April, as long as the government’s four tests have been passed, outdoor hospitality will reopen.
Beer gardens and restaurants with outdoor seating will all reopen – with no curfew and no requirement to have a substantial meal with drinks ordered.
This will be accompanied by the reopening of non-essential retail, gyms, personal care (hairdressers etc) and holiday lets; meaning people can go on self-catering UK holidays from this date with members of their household.
From 17 May
By mid-May, the plans are to reopen indoor hospitality including restaurants, pubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.
Sports stadiums can also reopen, subject to capacity limits, as well as hotels, hostels, B&Bs and children’s play areas.
Outdoor meetings will be limited to 30 people and this will be the first time that people are allowed to meet indoors – up to six people, no more than two households.
From 21 June
It feels like a dream, but it may be coming a reality. From 21 June, there are plans to remove all legal limits on social contact.
Nightclubs will FINALLY reopen and there will be no limits to wedding parties.
Large events will also be able to go ahead, and testing may be used at such events in order to reduce infection.
49 days to go
So there’s seven weeks to go until we can get restaurants, pubs and bars will begin to reopen for outdoor dining. And another five before we’ll be able to sit inside them, but it’s reassuring to have a date in the calendar for the total lifting of restrictions, no matter how many caveats it may include.
We’re all desperate to get back to some form of normality, to have a pint in the pub, to be able to sit in a restaurant, or to go on a bender around Manchester city centre.
The end is hopefully now in sight, and we can’t bloody wait.
