The government have announced changes to some of the rules on lockdown restrictions effective from the 17th May.
People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people
Indoors, groups of six or a larger group of two households can meet
Hospitality can open indoors – but diners and drinkers must remain seated
Indoor entertainment can open, including cinemas, museums, and children’s play areas
Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadia can reopen – with capacity limits
Large indoor performances and sporting events with a capacity of 1,000 people will be allowed
Outdoor large performances and sporting events will have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people or must only be half full, whichever is lower
Bigger sports stadiums will be allowed 10,000 people or can only be a quarter full, whichever is lower
Testing will be used to support these openings
Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors
Saunas and steam rooms can open
Travel restrictions are lifted – but people should only travel to green list countries, or amber if they really have to
Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen fully
Staycations can take place in groups of up to six people or two households
Weddings, receptions, and other life events can take place with up to 30 people – but no guests can dance
Funerals can take place with the number of people safely allowed at that specific venue
Thirty people can attend a support group, or parent and child group (children under five years old do not count)
Care home residents can have up to five named visitors and greater freedoms to make low-risk visits
Face coverings no longer needed by secondary school and college pupils in classrooms or communal areas
Twice weekly home testing for pupils remains
All remaining university students can return to in-person teaching, with twice weekly testing
People have the choice as to whether to socially distance with close family and friends
People can hug those close to them but they should remain cautious as this remains a way of transmitting COVID
Wider social distancing rules remain in place in adult social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings.
You should continue to work from home if you can. When travelling within the UK, you should aim to do so safely and plan your journey in advance.
More detailed information is available from www.gov.uk
TRAVEL
On 7th May, the government announced that the ban on non-essential international travel would be removed on the 17th May and replaced with a traffic light system.
This means it will no longer be illegal to travel abroad without a permitted reason.
A ‘Green List’ setting out which countries passengers can travel to without needing to quarantine on return has been published.
To protect public health the Govt DO NOT recommend travel for leisure to countries outside of the ‘Green List’ below:
Portugal including the Azores and Madeira
Israel
Australia
New Zealand
Singapore
Iceland
Brunei
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Falkland Islands
In addition to the above, the MALDIVES, NEPAL and TURKEY were added to the ‘Red List’. Passengers arriving into England after 4am on 12th May MUST undertake a ten day stay in a managed quarantine hotel.
From Monday 12th April
non-essential retail will be able to reopen
personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons will be able to reopen
public buildings such as libraries and community centres will be able to reopen
outdoor hospitality venues will be able to reopen, with table service only
most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances (such as cinemas and concerts) will be able to reopen
some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds will be able to take place
indoor leisure and sports facilities will be able to reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble
all childcare and supervised activities will be allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number)
weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events will be able to take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens
self-contained accommodation will be able to open for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble
you should continue to minimise the amount that you travel where possible
care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test)
Letters to patients with updated guidance will be arriving from 19th March 2021 and over the next two weeks.
Patients on the shielding list will be able to follow the national restrictions alongside the rest of the population, but are still advised to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe from #COVID19.
On 22 February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a statement in the House of Commons setting out the government’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions in England.
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