UK to ease Covid-19 restrictions in March

The United Kingdom (UK) will start easing its coronavirus-induced restrictions in March 2021.

As of March 8, 2021, restrictions will begin to ease in England, according to the UK government in a statement posted on its official website and obtained by DGN Online.

The statement set the roadmap for getting the UK out of lockdown.

Here is the roadmap:

Non-Lockdown Roadmap

From March 8, Britons will see restrictions start to lift and the government’s four-step roadmap will offer a path to a more normal life.

The success of the vaccination program is a factor – to date, more than 17 million people have had their shots – but by no means the whole story. The public has also taken up the challenge of suppressing COVID-19: by obeying the law; stay at home; get tested if necessary; isolate if necessary and follow “hands, face, space” and “let in fresh air” instructions.

Taken together, this means that while the absolute number of cases remains relatively high, we can start to ease the current strict lockdown. As we all need to remain vigilant – especially against the threat of new COVID-19 variants – and continue to protect the NHS, a safe exit from lockdown can begin. It will take place in four stages; and at every step we plan to lift the restrictions across England at the same time.

In implementing this plan, we will be guided by data, not dates, so as not to risk an outbreak of infections that would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS. For this reason, all dates in the roadmap are indicative and subject to change. There will be a minimum of five weeks between each step: four weeks for the scientific data to reflect the changes in restrictions and be analyzed; followed by one week’s notice of the restrictions which will be relaxed.

It is only when the government is confident that it is safe to move from one stage to the next that the final decision will be made. The decision will be based on four tests: the vaccine deployment program is continuing successfully; evidence shows that vaccines are effective enough to reduce hospitalizations and deaths in people vaccinated; infection rates are not at risk of an increase in hospital admissions that would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS; and our risk assessment is not fundamentally altered by the new variants of concern.

The government will continue to protect the public by ensuring that local outbreaks are managed quickly and efficiently and that we fight dangerous new variants, both in the UK and at the border. The government will also continue to support families and businesses throughout the stages set out in the roadmap – the details of which will be set out by the Chancellor in the March 3 budget.

2. Four steps

In Stage 1, our priority is to ensure that all children and students return safely to face-to-face teaching in schools and colleges starting March 8. Child care and supervised activities of children can also resume if necessary to allow parents to work or engage in similar activities. We are introducing rapid tests twice a week for high school and college students – in addition to regular testing for all teachers – to reduce the risk of the virus spreading in schools.

Higher education students from English universities taking practical courses can also return from March 8.

People will be allowed to leave home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble, if they are eligible, or with someone outside of their household. Residents of nursing homes will also be entitled to a regular visitor.

Evidence shows that it is safer for people to meet outdoors rather than indoors. And that is why from March 29, when most schools start to go their separate ways for the Easter holidays, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of 6 people (rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed, which will make it easier for friends and families to meet outside.

Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts and outdoor swimming pools will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to participate in officially organized outdoor sports.

The “stay at home” rule will end on March 29, but many restrictions will remain in place. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimize the number of trips they take where possible, avoiding traveling at the busiest times and routes. Travel abroad will continue to be banned except for a few permitted reasons. Holidays abroad will not be permitted, as it will remain important to manage the risk of imported variants and protect the vaccination program. The government has launched a new task force to review world travel, which will report on April 12.

Stage 2, which will take place no earlier than April 12, will see the opening of non-essential retail; personal care facilities such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centers. Indoor recreation facilities such as gymnasiums will also reopen (but only for use by individuals or family groups); as are most attractions and outdoor environments, including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in theaters. Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and vacation rentals, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, may also reopen.

Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outside in step 2 and customers will not need to order a heavy meal with alcoholic beverages and no curfew, although customers will need to order , eat and drink seated (“ table service ”). Wider social contact rules will apply in all of these contexts to avoid internal mixing between different households.

As funerals can continue with up to 30 people in mourning, the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and memorial events such as vigils will increase to 15.

As part of Stage 3, no earlier than May 17, the government will seek to continue to relax the limits on dating friends and family members to the extent possible, allowing people to decide on the level of risk appropriate to their situation.

This means that most legal restrictions on meeting other people outside will be lifted – although gatherings of more than 30 people will remain illegal.

Indoors, the 6 or 2 household rule will apply – we will continue to examine whether it is safe to increase this.

As soon as possible and no later than step 3, we’ll also update the social distancing advice with friends and family, including hugs. But until that point, people should continue to stay away from anyone outside of their household or the Support Bubble.

Most businesses in all but the riskiest sectors will be able to reopen. Across all industries, COVID-Secure guidelines will remain in place and businesses may not support groups larger than legal limits. Inner hospitality will reopen – and as in step 2, sites will not have to serve a heavy meal with alcoholic beverages; there will also be no curfew. However, customers will have to order, eat and drink seated.

Other indoor locations to open in Stage 3 include indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas; the rest of the accommodation industry, including hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts; and indoor sports and exercise classes for adults. The government will also allow certain larger shows and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 or half full (whichever is lower), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 or half. full (whichever is lower). In larger open-air venues, where crowds can be distributed, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter, whichever is lower).

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and vigils, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events, including bar mitzvahs and baptisms.

Finally, before Stage 4 begins, the government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures that have been put in place to reduce transmission. This will inform decisions about when and under what circumstances the 1 meter plus rules, the wearing of face masks and other measures can be lifted. It will also inform advice on working from home – which should continue as much as possible until this review is completed.

By step 4, which will take place no earlier than June 21, the government hopes to be able to remove all legal limits on social contact.

We hope to reopen the remaining premises, including nightclubs, and ease the restrictions on major events and shows that apply in step 3. This will be subject to the results of a scientific events research program. to test the results of some pilot events in the spring and summer, where we will test the use of tests and other techniques to reduce the risk of infection. The same event research program will guide decisions on whether to remove all boundaries at weddings and other life events.

As we move through each of these phases of the roadmap, we all need to remember that COVID-19 is still a part of our lives. We are going to have to continue living our lives differently to ensure our safety and that of others. We must continue with “hands, face, space”. Comply with the COVID-Secure measures that remain in place.

Go outside when we can and let in the fresh air. Get tested if necessary. Get vaccinated when offered. If we all continue to play our roles, we will be one step closer to a future that is more familiar to us.