PRIME minister Boris Johnson has today outlined England's route out of national lockdown.
We've outlined Mr Johnson's four-stage plan and the key dates below. Movement from one step to the next will be dependent on: vaccination targets, vaccine reducing hospitalisation and death, pressure on NHS and variants.
Stage 1.0: March 8
- Schools and colleges reopen to all pupils. Remote teaching at universities to continue
- Socialising with with one other person outside of household bubble permitted outdoors for "recreation"
- Care home residents allowed one regular, indoor visitor wearing PPE
- Stay at home order in place until March 29
Stage 1.1: March 29
- Outdoor gatherings of six people from two different households can socialise outdoors - including in private gardens
- Outdoor sport to resume
- Stay at home order lifted but work from home message still enforced and international travel largely unallowed
Stage 2: April 12
- Non-essential shops, hairdressers and salons reopen
- Hospitality venues open for outdoor service only. No mixing of households is permitted indoors. No rules on substantial meals or curfews but diners/drinkers must be seated
- Gyms, libaries, zoos, musems reopen for visitors - visitors can attend with another two households/group of six if outdoors
- Hotels, hostels and b&b trips open for household groups
- Up to 30 guests allowed at a funeral, with 15 at a wake
Stage 3: May 17
- Outdoors, most social contact rules will be lifted, although gatherings of more than 30 people will remain illegal
- Indoors, two households or groups of up to six people will be allowed to mix.
- Indoor hospitality – pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, children’s play areas, hotels, B&Bs, indoor exercise classes – will be allowed to open. The rule of six or two household rule will apply
- In indoor performance and sporting venues, a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full, whichever is lower, will be allowed
- In outdoor performance and sporting venues, a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full, whichever is lower, will be allowed
- In bigger sports stadiums, a capacity of 10,000 people or a quarter full, whichever is lower, will be allowed
- Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, wedding receptions, wakes, funerals and christenings
Stage 4: June 21
- All remaining restrictions on social contact could be lifted
- Larger events, such as festivals, could go ahead and nightclubs could open
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