CINEMAS, bingo halls and hotels are among the list of businesses that can reopen today as Covid lockdown restrictions ease further.
But not all businesses are able to welcome back customers just yet. Below we explain which ones can and can’t open for visitors.
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Some businesses have already reopened, and that includes non-essential retailers and pubs and restaurants that have outdoor seating areas.
From today (May 17), pubs, bars and restaurants can open their indoor seating areas under the third stage of Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown.
This means boozers are serving punters inside for the first time in months and some drinkers even arrived at pubs at midnight to celebrate.
Stadiums have also reopened for sports and performances – although capacity limits will be in place.
What four tests does the gov need to pass before the next stage of restrictions is eased?
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. Assessments of the risks are not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.
Which businesses can’t open on May 17?
- Nightclubs
- Strip clubs
- Larger events
While many businesses are allowed to reopen, some will have to wait longer to welcome back visitors.
Nightclubs will stay closed and won’t be able to reopen until June 21 at the earliest, and the same goes for strip clubs and larger events.
The next – and final – stage of the roadmap for lifting the country out of lockdown is all restrictions being lifted.
The earliest date this can happen is June 21, and Brits will be able to return back to normal.
The date of this “final unlocking” is under review due to worries over the Indian variant of coronavirus.
By the end of July, every adult is expected to have been offered a first dose of the Covid jab.
Nightclubs are among the last to reopen due to the difficulty of making them Covid-secure
There is limited social distancing and it’s harder to keep areas clean constantly.
Meanwhile, strip club customers are set to be required to show Covid vaccine passports when they reopen next month.
Larger events will also be among the last to return to normal when the last stage of lockdown is lifted.
No dates set so far for the staged lifting of lockdown restrictions have been pushed back, but the roadmap can be altered by the Prime Minister if coronavirus variants don’t change the risks of reopenign.
The PM has hinted that lockdown easing may be delayed beyond June 21, as he vowed to “rule nothing out” to combat the Indian Covid strain.
Which businesses have reopened on May 17?
- Pubs (indoor serving)
- Restaurants (indoor serving)
- Steam rooms
- Saunas
- Cinemas
- Bingo halls
- Bowling alleys
- Big events (with capacity limits)
- Sports stadiums (with capacity limits)
Businesses that rely on an indoor setting have been allowed to open their doors to customers again from May 17.
This includes pubs and restaurants, both of which are now allowed dine-in customers.
Some larger events will finally kick off again from May 17 too.
Indoor events such as gigs have a capacity limit of 1,000, or 50% – whichever is the smaller number.
Meanwhile, outdoor events can welcome up 4,000 or 50% capacity.
But outdoor events which are seated, such as football matches, are capped at 10,000 or 25%.
Other businesses allowed to reopen include indoor entertainment, such as cinemas and bingo halls.
What businesses reopened on April 12?
A number of businesses opened on April 12.
- 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
Other businesses that were allowed to reopen on April 12 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
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We explain all the rules you need to follow if you’re planning a trip.
Meanwhile, working from home measures will remain in place until at least June.
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