Boris Johnson unveils plan to end lockdown, including when schools, pubs, hairdressers, restaurants and gyms can reopen - here's what he said
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Speaking to the House of Commons this afternoon, Boris Johnson announced the highly anticipated measures after analysing the latest Covid figures.
He explained to MPs that there will be four steps to ending lockdown across the country with five weeks between each stage to assess the impact on infections.
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Hide AdHe said there is 'no credible route for a zero Covid Britain, or a zero Covid world' and that it is crucial that the roadmap is cautious.
The PM added the easing of lockdown will be led by ‘data, not dates’.
Here's what will reopen and when:
Step 1 - March 8
In two weeks from today, we will see the first step of the easing of lockdown, with schools reopening and after-school sports and activities restarting outdoors.
From this date people will also be allowed to have socially distanced one-on-one meetups with others outdoors in a public space – in a social aspect, and outdoor sports are expected to resume.
March 29
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Hide AdMore social contact is expected to be permitted, with outdoor gatherings allowed either under the reinstated ‘rule of six’, or between two households. The ‘stay at home’ rule will be scrapped.
Step 2 - April 12
Most outdoor venues open, including pubs and restaurants but only for outdoor tables and beer gardens. Customers will have to be seated but there will be no need to have a meal with alcohol.
Non-essential shops will also be allowed to reopen.
Hairdressers, nail salons and indoor facilities, such as gyms, will be able to reopen 'at the earliest'.
Also reopening will be settings such as zoos and theme parks. However, social contact rules will apply here, so no indoor mixing between households and limits on outdoor mixing.
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Hide AdFunerals can have up to 30 attendees, while weddings, receptions and wakes can have 15.
Step 3 - May 17
Outdoor meeting of up to 30 people will be permitted.
Indoors, the 'rule of six' or two households
Restaurants, pubs, hotels, play areas and theatres will be able to reopen.
For sport, indoor venues can have up to 1,000 spectators or half capacity, whichever is lower; outdoors the limit will be 4,000 people or half capacity, whichever is lower.
Very large outdoor seated venues, such as big football stadiums, where crowds can be spread out, will have a limit of 10,000 people, or a quarter full, whichever is fewer.
Step 4 - June 21
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Hide AdAll legal limits removed on mixing will be removed and the last sectors to remain closed, such as nightclubs, will reopen. Large events can take place.
There are likely to be changes to wider social distancing measures but this will be decided in a separate review - four key tests as each stage of measures are lifted. These are:
1. The success of the mass vaccination programme
2. The reduction of hospital admissions and deaths
3. The dropping off of infection rates
4. That there are no new Covid variants in the country are causing concern.