Covid 19 - What you need to know - Road Map to Reopening

The Vaccine programme has now delivered a first dose to over 17m citizens and the Government aims to offer a first dose to all adults by the end of July.

On this basis, in a statement to the House of Commons this afternoon, the Prime Minister announced a 4 step ‘Road Map’ to a return to normality.

A minimum of 5 weeks will pass between each step and each further step will only be taken following an assessment of the impact of the earlier step.

The Prime Minister described the Government's plan as a ‘Cautious’ and (hopefully) ‘Irreversible’ route to the lifting of Covid restrictions and a return to normality.

The first step will include the return of primary and secondary children to school on 8th March.

Hospitality will begin to reopen from 12th April (at the earliest) during ‘Step 2’ with outdoor areas of pubs and restaurants being permitted to open subject to guidance. Outdoor gatherings will be restricted to the ‘Rule of 6’ or '2 Households', we await confirmation in guidance whether hospitality will not be subject to any more stringent limits.

The Prime Minister confirmed there will be no curfew and the sale of alcohol will not be required to be ancillary to food sales so hopefully any discussion around Scotch Eggs should now be in the past

'Step 3', which will be taken no earlier than 17th May, will mark the reopening of indoor hospitality including pubs, bars, Restaurants cinemas, theatres and sports stadia (subject to social distancing and capacity requirements which will be spelt out in guidance, yet to be published).

'Step 4', which will be taken no earlier than 21st June, will see the lifting of all remaining social limits and “We will reopen everything up to and including nightclubs” said the Prime Minster. He did make reference to potential for testing in some instances, we must await to see the relevant guidance for further details.

Financial support will continue, said the Prime Minister,  "We will not pull the rug" however we must await the Chancellor's statement next week for further details.

We shall keep you updated.