Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that stage two of the route to recovery will begin from next Monday.
This means:
- Care home residents will be allowed two visitors.
- Non-essential shops and close-contact services such as hairdressers and barbers can reopen
- Restaurants and pubs can start serving customers outdoors, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcohol, and no curfew. However, people will have to eat and drink while seated
- Gyms and spas, zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres can reopen
- Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation
- Weddings attended by up to 15 people can take place
- All children will be able to attend any indoor children’s activity, including sport
- Parent and child groups of up to 15 people (not counting children aged under five years old) can restart indoors
People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise domestic travel. International holidays are still illegal.
Outdoor gatherings must still be limited to six people or two households and people must not socialise indoors with anyone you do not live with or have not formed a support bubble with.
Mr Johnson said the public’s patience is paying off but urged caution and reminded people to make sure they adhere to the rules.
He has encouraged people to take tests at local sites after it was announced earlier today that everyone in England will be given access to two rapid COVID-19 tests a week from Friday.
