The Prime Minister has announced a four-step approach to lifting lockdown over the coming months.
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has addressed the nation to outline a four-step approach in his roadmap out of lockdown. He made it clear that some of the targets might be delayed if cases and hospital admissions required it. He said that he wanted these actions to be irreversible.
The plan leaves at least five weeks between each step – four weeks to acquire data on its impact, and a week to give people notice of what is happening next.
The steps are as follows:
Step 1
Schools to reopen on March 8 for all schools and all years. Wraparound childcare such as after-school clubs can also reopen from this date.
Outdoor recreation will be allowed on your own, with one other person or with your household or support bubble.
Indoor visits to care homes can start again for a single named visitor.
From March 29 people will be able to meet outside, subject to the rule of six, or provided no more than two households are meeting.
Step 2
Step 2 will not start before April 12. All non-essential retail will open.
Pubs and restaurants will begin to open for outdoor service. There will be no curfew, and no requirement for people to order a substantial meal.
Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will reopen as well as outdoor attractions, libraries and children’s activities.
Event pilots will begin.
Step 3
Step 3 will start no earlier than May 17. Most restrictions on meeting outdoors will then be lifted. Pubs and restaurants will open for indoor service as well as cinemas, hotels, and theatres.
Larger events will be allowed, subject to enhanced testing and capacity limits will apply.
Step 4
Johnson says step 4 will start no earlier than June 21. At that point all limits on social contacts should be lifted. And the PM said large events like weddings should be able to go ahead. Nightclubs to reopen as well as larger events.
The good news is that non-essential retail will open on April 12, though for many this seems far too cautious and damaging for many retailers given that it is almost two months away. Equally important, if larger events can take place from May, does this mean that exhibitions can take place? With Home & Gift on the 18th July and PG Live on the 27th July this will be welcome news! It does appear on the surface this is the case, and we will bring you more information when we know more.
