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