PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed his roadmap out of lockdown and this includes what businesses will stay closed.
The PM detailed how England will ease out of coronavirus restrictions in an address to the nation this evening, following an update in the Commons today.
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The roadmap out of lockdown will be done in stages, meaning businesses won’t reopen at the same time.
It is also dependent on coronavirus cases remaining under control and the vaccine rollout staying on target.
The Prime Minister said: “The threat remains substantial with the numbers in hospital only now beginning to fall below the peak of the first wave in April.
“But we are able to take these steps because of the resolve of the British people and the extraordinary success of our NHS in vaccinating more than 17.5 million people across the UK.”
It comes as…
What four tests does the gov need to pass before easing restrictions?
1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
4. Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.
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The roadmap out of lockdown will begin on March 8 when schools fully reopen for all students.
The “Rule of Six” will then return to parks and private gardens from March 29, as well as outdoor sports on the same date.
Here’s how the rest of the roadmap out of lockdown will pan out:
Businesses that can’t reopen until April 12
Mr Johnson said that non-essential retailers can reopen from this date.
This is understood to include:
- Clothing shops
- Homeware shops
- Toy shops
- Vehicle showrooms (other than for rental)
- Betting shops
- Tailors
- Tobacco and vape shops
- Electronic goods shops
- Mobile phone shops
- Auction houses (except for auctions of livestock or agricultural equipment)
- Market stalls selling non-essential goods
The list above is based on shops that have been described as “non-essential” by the government during this lockdown, so these are expected to reopen.
These businesses have only been allowed to stay open for home delivery and click and collect.
Essential shops that have been open throughout lockdown include ones that sell important goods like food, medicines and DIY items for home repairs.
Other businesses that will reopen include:
- Pubs (outdoor service only)
- Restaurants (outdoor service only)
- Hairdressers
- Gyms (indoor exercising – but no classes)
- Beauty salons
- Spas
- Libraries
- Theme parks
- Drive-in cinemas
- Drive-in performances
- Zoos
- Community centres
Brits wanting to cut their lockdown locks will also have to wait until April 12 for hairdressers and barbers to reopen.
Other personal care facilities that will welcome customers back include salons and spas – but steam rooms and saunas won’t reopen until at least May.
Pubs and restaurants will be able to open until this date – but they’ll only be able to serve drinks outdoors.
They won’t be able to reopen fully for indoor drinking and eating until May.
While pubs and restaurants are open for outdoor-use only, punters will be subject to table service, although they will be able to order takeaway pints and don’t have to buy food.
The 10pm curfew is also being scrapped.
Businesses reopening on May 17
- Pubs (indoor serving)
- Restaurants (indoor serving)
- Steam rooms
- Saunas
- Cinemas
- Bingo halls
- Bowling alleys
- Big events (with capacity)
- Sports stadiums (with capacity)
Businesses that rely on an indoor setting will be allowed to open their doors to customers again from May 17.
This includes pubs and restaurants, both of which will be allowed dine-in customers from this date once again.
It is understood big events and sports stadiums will be allowed, but with capacity limits in place.
Up to 10,000 people are expected to be allowed in outdoor spaces where people can spread out, or up to 4,000 people, or 50% capacity, in stadiums.
Indoor events will be capped at 1,000 people, or 50%.
Gigs are likely to restart from June 21 but could get the go-ahead with limits on numbers and social distancing from May.
Other businesses that are expected to be allowed to reopen include indoor entertainment, such as cinemas and bingo halls.
Businesses that can’t reopen until June 21
- Nightclubs
- Larger events
All other restrictions are expected to be lifted from June 21, paving the way for Brits to feel a sense of normality by July.
From June 21, the PM has confirmed that nightclubs can finally reopen.
Weddings and funerals will also be allowed to go ahead without restrictions from June 21.
By the end of July, every adult will have been offered a Covid jab first dose.
It means by this point, other businesses that weren’t mentioned as part of the roadmap should be open by then.
However, the roadmap can be altered by the PM if coronavirus cases start rising or the vaccine programme misses targets.
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We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about “non-essential” shops reopening.
Gyms reopening explained: here’s what fitness fans should be aware of.
The PM last week told ministers there will be no backsliding on his goal of getting kids back to class from March 8 – despite a mutiny by Sage scientists.
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