Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined the Government's four step roadmap to end COVID-19 lockdown.
The PM made a statement to the House of Commons setting out the easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England over the coming months.
The-4-stages-of-lockdown-easing
So how does the timetable affect Hertfordshire's tourism and hospitality sector?
When will cinemas and theatres open? When can you get a haircut? When will museums and libraries reopen? When can you pop to the gym?
Here's a guide to the four-step exit plan.
Step One – From March 8
- Schools and colleges to open for all students.
- Stay at home order remains in place.
- People can meet one other person outside for recreation. Household only indoors.
- Funerals for 30 people, and weddings for six people allowed.
Step One – From March 29
- People can meet outdoors, subject to the rule of six, or provided no more than two households are meeting. No household mixing indoors.
- People will no longer be legally required to stay at home but should still work from home if they can and minimise travel.
- Outdoor sport and leisure facilities, such as tennis or basketball courts and open air swimming pools, can open, and formally organised sports can restart.
Step Two – No earlier than April 12
- Self-contained accommodation will open for individuals or household groups only. Domestic overnight stays allowed.
- Non-essential retail can open.
- Pubs and restaurants will begin to open for outdoor hospitality, without curfew, and no requirement for people to order a substantial meal.
- Outdoor attractions such as zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas can open.
- Personal care premises including hairdressers and barbers to open.
- Funerals for 30 people and weddings for 15 people.
- Indoor leisure, including gyms, open for use individually or within household groups.
Step Three – No earlier than May 17
- People will be able to meet indoors, subject to the rule of six, or provided no more than two households are meeting.
- Pubs and restaurants will open for indoor service.
- Hotels, guest houses and B&Bs can open.
- Indoor entertainment and attractions can open.
- Remaining outdoor entertainment, including performances.
- Cinemas and theatres will open with social distancing.
- Some large events – capacity limits apply.
Indoor events: audiences with 1,000 people or 50% capacity
Outdoor seated events: the lower of 10,000 or 25%
Outdoor events not seated: up to 4,000 or 50% - Weddings and significant life events for 30 people.
- International travel will not resume before May 17, subject to review.
Step Four – No earlier than June 21
- All limits on social contact will be lifted.
- Larger events will be able to take place.
- No legal limit on all life events.
- Remaining businesses, including nightclubs, will open.
As well as the four steps outlined above, there will be four reviews. These will:
- Look at whether having a vaccine or a negative test result can reduce restrictions on social contact.
- Pilot the impact of testing and reduced social distancing on events.
- Looking at how to facilitate more inbound and outbound travel – to report back by April 12.
- Review social distancing measures, such as the one-metre-plus rule, rules on face coverings, and working from home – to report back by June 21.
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