On Monday, the Prime Minister laid out the roadmap as we look to come out of lockdown. With the success of the vaccination programme, where we have vaccinated one third of our population, including all those most vulnerable to the virus, we are in a position to look to a summer free from restrictions.
In his statement to Parliament the Prime Minister set out
the four measures that will be used to test our progress: the continued roll
out of the vaccine, the reduction of those needing to be hospitalised and
deaths from COVID, that the infection rate does not cause further pressure on
the NHS and that new variants of the virus do not undermine the effectiveness
of the vaccines.
Taking these measures, we will now enter a three month
process of gradually unlocking our society and economy. There will be four
steps in this process, and each will be assessed over a five week period before
we move onto the next phase.
Phase one will begin on 8th March when we will
see all school children and college students return to the classroom. This will
be supported by twice weekly testing of all secondary and college pupils.
At this time, we will also we able to meet one other person
from outside our household outside for leisure, rather than just exercise as we
are currently limited to. Also, care home residents will be able to nominate
one named person to visit them – I know this will be very welcomed by many.
As part of Step one, we will go further and make further
changes which will take effect on 29 March, when schools go on Easter holidays.
It will become possible to meet in limited numbers outdoors, where the risk is
lower. The Rule of Six will return outdoors, including in private gardens, and
outdoor meetings of two households will also be permitted on the same basis, so
that families in different circumstances can meet.
Outdoor sports facilities – such as tennis and basketball
courts, and open-air swimming pools – will be able to reopen and formally organised
outdoor sports will resume, subject to guidance.
From this point, 29 March, the legal requirement to ‘stay at
home’ will be lifted, although we should all remain cautious and limit our
travel as much as we can.
Step two will begin, subject to the four tests, on 12 April.
At this time non-essential retail will reopen, as will personal care including
hairdressers and nail salons. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will
re-open, as will holiday-lets, but only for use by individuals or household groups.
We will begin to re-open our pubs and restaurants outdoors,
there will be no curfew or limitations around a substantial meal.
We will aim to begin step three on 17 May when most
restrictions on meetings outdoors will be lifted, subject to a limit of thirty
people. And this is the point when we will be able to see our friends and
family indoors - subject to the Rule of Six or the meeting of two households. We
will also reopen pubs and restaurants indoors along with cinemas and children’s
play areas, hotels, hostels, and B&Bs. Theatres and concert halls will be
able to open their doors, and sporting events will be able to welcome
spectators.
The final step will begin no earlier than 21 June. With
appropriate mitigations, we will aim to remove all legal limits on social
contact, and on weddings and other life events. We will re-open everything,
including nightclubs.
I am aware that there will be those on both sides of this
matter who will feel unhappy with this plan. Some will feel it is too cautious
and slow, while others will feel concerned we are moving too quickly. I believe
it is a sensible and measured plan that provides a timeframe for everyone to
work to.
I remain concerned at the impact this gradual approach will
have on some of our local businesses and I will continue to push for further
financial support for those businesses who will not be able to open without
major restrictions for many weeks to come.
