Covid lockdown roadmap: the rules that are changing from today, May 17
Today sees the biggest easing of lockdown restrictions since the summer, but the Prime Minister has warned that there needs to be a "heavy dose of caution" as fears grow that a surge in cases could delay further easing of restrictions.
As England enters step three today, May 17, pubs and restaurants will be able to open indoors, and groups of six people or two households will be able to mix indoors.
Additionally, people will be allowed to hug each other once again, the ban on overseas holidays will lift for "green list" countries, overnight stays will be allowed, face masks will no longer be needed in secondary school classrooms, university students will return to in-person teaching, and cinemas and theatres will be able to reopen.
Clusters of the Indian variant have been evident in regions that have invited all adults aged 18 and over to receive the vaccine from today, May 17, in a bid to curb the spread.
Though Covid cases and hospitalisations have continued to fall across the UK, the Indian variant poses a concern as it has spread three times faster than other imported strains. Public Health England figures show that the strain is now dominant in several Covid-19 hotspots in the North West of England.
The government will accelerate provision of second doses to over-50s and the clinically vulnerable, Mr Johnson confirmed on May 14.
The rule of 30 at funerals will be dropped today, May 17, with venues assessing how many people can fit in indoor and outdoor spaces with social distancing in place.
The Covid-19 Alert Level in the UK has now been lowered from Level 4 to Level 3, meaning that the "epidemic is in general circulation".
The decision was made by the UK's four chief medical officers, which includes Prof Chris Whitty, and is the first time that the country has been at this alert level since September 2020.
Infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths are at their lowest level since September 2020, and more than two thirds of adults received a first dose of the vaccine.
Work from home guidance will be lifted on June 21, Mr Johnson has also signalled, as he restated his belief that city centres would bounce back “remarkably quickly” from Covid-19.
The Prime Minister also stressed that the end of lockdown “is not the end of the pandemic” and warned that the nation continued to “face the persistent threat of new variants”.
Step-by-step unlocking: what happens when?
The roadmap is underpinned by four key tests that are linked to data, which act like a checklist that must be met before moving on to the next step of reopening.
The tests determine whether the vaccine rollout is going as planned; vaccines are effective in bringing down deaths and hospitalisations; case numbers are not rising so fast that the NHS risks being overwhelmed; and new variants do not create unforeseen risks.
Below are the changes of the roadmap from May 17 and those expected on June 21, although delays are possible if the data take a negative turn.
From today, May 17, groups of up to six people and two households will be allowed to meet indoors, so people can enter each other's homes.
Hugging is now allowed between close family and friends, who will be able to choose whether or not to socially distance. However, people are being "urged to remain cautious", and wider social distancing rules will remain for adult social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings.
Pubs and restaurants can open indoors from today and venues will be allowed to serve food and drink, but hospitality guidance must be observed, such as individuals remaining seated. There will be no requirements for guests to be socially distanced at tables during this stage.
At this point, the rule of six and two households rule has been introduced indoors. It will be lifted outdoors, meaning people can meet in groups of up to 30 in beer gardens or when dining al fresco.
Care home visiting will be eased further, with residents able to have up to five named visitors and greater freedoms to make low risk visits outside of the establishments.
Also from May 17, university students can return to face-to-face teaching on campus, replacing online lectures that have been in place for months. They should get tested twice a week upon return.
Funerals will no longer be limited to 30 mourners. Instead, the capacity would be determined by how many people could be accommodated in venues such as places of worship or funeral homes while maintaining social distancing.
However, the cap of 30 people will remain for weddings and other types of significant events, including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
Up to 30 people will be able to attend a support group or parent and child group. The limit does not include children under five.
Hotels and B&Bs can also open, meaning small group trips will be back on the cards, with up to six people or two households able to meet indoors.
Additionally, professional performances can now resume indoors at this time. There is no official guidance on the number of performers permitted, but this will be determined based on the capacity of the venue.
Indoor sports and gym classes can also open, along with entertainment venues, including cinemas and theatres. New rules will be in place for different sizes of venues.
Normal outdoor events can open for up to 4,000 people or 50 per cent of the venue capacity, whichever is smaller. Similarly, normal indoor events can open for up to 1,000 people or 50 per cent capacity, again whichever is lower.
For huge outdoor seated venues, there is a special limit. Up to 10,000 attendees will be allowed or 25 per cent capacity, whichever is lower. This means, for example, Wembley Stadium will be able to open with 10,000 fans in attendance.
The ban on overseas holidays has now ended, in the first step to reviving foreign travel. It is no longer illegal to go abroad, meaning summer holidays overseas are now allowed, with a traffic light system for countries in use.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has already announced the list of 12 countries or territories that will be on the "green" list, meaning that people will be able to travel to countries like Portugal and Israel without having to quarantine upon return.
However, foreign holidays are “not a good idea” this year, a leading University of Oxford professor and government vaccine adviser has warned – instead, he suggested people should get used to Cornwall and Bournemouth.
Additionally, holidaymakers returning from “green” list destinations may have to pay for their pre-departure tests, when the ban on foreign travel is lifted.
The Department for Transport have unveiled a new gov.uk website to provide holidaymakers with clear information on the cheapest, quickest and most efficient Covid test companies.
It comes as Spain plans to waive its PCR testing requirement for British visitors from May 20, if the UK's Covid-19 infection rate allows.
The Health Secretary has also confirmed that people who have had both Covid vaccinations will be able to use the NHS app to "prove" their status in order to travel to other countries from May 17.
Those who do not have access to a smartphone can call the NHS Helpline 119 to gain a vaccine confirmation letter so they can travel to one of the "green" list destinations.
Scientists advising the Government say there is nothing currently in the data to suggest that people will not be able to enjoy a relatively normal summer, though coronavirus cases may well rise as autumn approaches.
Mr Johnson said the UK is "on track" to lift all restrictions from June 21, which has been hailed "Freedom Day". Work from home guidance will be lifted from this day, Mr Johnson confirmed, as part of the drive to return commuter trade to city centres. Compulsory social distancing is expected to end at this time, hopefully encouraging workers to return to their commute using public transport.
Meanwhile, Mr Raab declared on May 2 that the nation is "very close now to really turning the corner" in the battle against Covid-19, but added that "some safeguards" would likely remain after June 21.
Could there be another lockdown in 2021?
The number of Covid cases and deaths is low, which has led Mr Johnson to state that "nothing in the data" suggests that a third lockdown will be implemented.
Although the vaccination programme is continuing strongly, there is concern that variants of the virus could bypass the vaccine and lead to a rise in infections.
The Indian variant is making worrying progress in a series of hotspots across the country and, if left unchecked, could undo the huge progress made over the last few months.
The Government wants to vaccinate as many as one million people a day as part of a drive to beat the Indian variant of Covid-19 and save the British summer, The Telegraph disclosed on May 16.
It comes as George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, refused to rule out the return of local lockdowns after a rise in Covid cases in some areas of the UK.
Asked if it meant restrictions could be imposed, he said: "We can’t rule anything out. We want this to be the last (lockdown) and want to avoid going back into a tiered system. We know that in the end, we had to go for full lockdown."
But an expert warned on May 13 that local restrictions will not contain the spread of the Indian variant of Covid-19, and it should be viewed as a countrywide problem.
The highly infectious variant may spread "way beyond" the current hotspots of Bolton in Greater Manchester, Erewash in Derbyshire, Blackburn, Bedford and Sefton, said Prof James Naismith, from the University of Oxford.
Prof Naismith, who is also a director at the Rosalind Franklin Institute, said: "I think we should view it as a countrywide problem. It will get everywhere. We keep learning this lesson, but we know that this will be the case."
However, there is "no sign" yet of coronavirus variants causing hospitalisations to increase in Britain, a scientist said on May 13, as Mr Johnson warned he was "anxious" about the Indian variant.
Prof Steven Riley, who researches infectious diseases at Imperial College London, said whether the road map for England continued on its planned trajectory was "a Government decision" but suggested the UK was currently in a good place.
There has been a surge in infection rates and deaths across Europe in countries such as France and Germany, and India has seen a rapid increase in cases and deaths following the emergence of a new variant.
Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said on May 16 that early findings from laboratory trials by Oxford University gave a "high degree of confidence" that coronavirus vaccines work against the Indian variant and warned local lockdowns could be implemented.
The Prime Minister said: "Together we have reached another milestone in our roadmap out of lockdown, but we must take this next step with a heavy dose of caution.
"We are keeping the spread of the variant first identified in India under close observation and taking swift action where infection rates are rising."
He said everyone must play their part "by getting tested twice a week, coming forward for your vaccine when called and remembering hands, face, space and fresh air".
"I urge everyone to be cautious and take responsibility when enjoying new freedoms today (May 17) in order to keep the virus at bay," Mr Johnson said.