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London – Times of Egypt
In a live broadcast from the House of Commons, British Prime minister Boris Johnson revealed, on Monday, the roadmap to ease the lockdown on the United Kingdom (UK).
It was revealed that the end of lockdown roadmap will be carried out in four stages: beginning on 8 March, 12 April, 17 May and 21 June. The first step begins on 8 March, allowing the reopening of schools and outdoor after-school sports activities. It also allows two people from different households to meet or sit together in an outdoor setting i.e., a picnic in a park.
“Every care home resident will be able to nominate a named visitor, able to visit regularly, provided that they’re tested and wear PPE”, Johnson told MPs. He advised “the clinically extremely vulnerable to shield until the end of March”.
The second part of step one will take place on 29 March, that is when the rule of six will be reintroduced, where six people or two households will be allowed to meet in outdoor settings including private gardens. On the same day, outdoor sports facilities will also be allowed to reopen, which include outdoor swimming pools and organised adult and children activities.
All non-essential retail will be allowed to reopen from 12 April, which marks the beginning of step two. The step includes the reopening of personal care services i.e., hairdressers and nail salons, it also allows the reopening of outdoor areas like beer gardens, theme parks and zoos. Indoor leisure facilities such as community centres, gyms, swimming pools and self-contained holiday accommodation are allowed to reopen from 12 April.
“Step three will begin no-earlier than the 17th of May, provided the data satisfies the four tests. Most restrictions on meetings outdoors will be lifted subject to a limit of 30”, the PM indicated. “This is the point when you will be able to see your friends and family indoors, subject to the rule of six or the meeting of two households”, he added.
The government will scrap the rule of six for outdoor gatherings from 17 May onwards. Cinemas, hotels, museums, pubs, performances, restaurants and sporting events will reopen, indoor, with football stadiums subject to a maximum of 10,000 spectators.
Receptions and weddings will be subject to a maximum limit of 30 people attending.
“Step four will begin no earlier than the 21st of June, with appropriate mitigations. We will aim to remove all legal limits on social contact and on weddings and other life events. We will reopen everything up to and including nightclubs and enable large events such as theatre performances above the limits of step three, potentially using testing to reduce the risk of infection”, according to PM Johnson.
The roadmap will depend on four conditions:
- Steady progress of the vaccine programme.
- Evidence shows vaccines are reducing deaths and numbers requiring hospital treatment.
- Infection rates do not risk surge in hospital admissions.
- New COVID variants do not change the risk status of lifting restrictions.
