The Roadmap Out of Lockdown

Yesterday, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson set out a roadmap to easing lockdown in England which could see all limits on social contact lifted by 21 June.

This new four-step plan allows restrictions to be lifted with a period of 5 weeks between each proposed step, ensuring sufficient time for data to be collected to help the government stay on top of any new changes or risks. The four steps are outlined below:

Step 1:

From 8th March - All schools will open and outdoor after-school sports and activities will be allowed. Recreation in an outdoor public spaces - such as a park - will be allowed between two people, which means they can sit down for a coffee, drink or picnic.

From 29 March - Outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed and will include gatherings in private gardens. No indoor mixing will be allowed unless otherwise exempt.

Step 2 (from 12th April)

This stage sees major parts of the economy permitted to reopen, including non-essential retail, personal care (beauty salons and hairdressers), public buildings (libraries and museums), indoor leisure, outdoor hospitality and self-contained accommodation.

Hospitality venues will be able to open for outdoor service and there will be no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. The requirement to order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) will remain.

At this stage, the social contact rules in England will not change further, which means that outdoor gatherings will still be limited to six people or two households and indoor mixing will not be allowed, as in Step 1.

Step 3 (from 17th May)

If supported by the data available, at this stage all but the most high-risk sectors will be able to reopen. These include:

  • Indoor hospitality – as with Step 2, there will no longer be any requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. Table service, however, will remain.
  • Remaining outdoor entertainment 
  • Indoor entertainment 
  • Remaining accommodation (hotels, hostels and B&Bs)
  • Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes

In Step 3, the “rule of six” will be removed for outdoor gatherings and be replaced with a limit of 30 people. Indoors, two households will be able to mix but the rule of six will be applicable in hospitality settings, with social distancing still maintained.

Up to 10,000 spectators can attend the very largest outdoor seated venues like football stadiums

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions, funerals and wakes.

Step 4 (from 21st June)

If supported by the data available, this step could potentially see all legal social contact limits removed and the remaining closed sectors of the economy reopened, including nightclubs.

It is hoped that by at this time, the restrictions on weddings and funerals will also be removed.

For further details of the roadmap, you can read the full government document here. 

Hereford BID

The team at Hereford BID feel really positive about the plans set out in the roadmap and strongly hope that it goes to plan so that we can focus on supporting our businesses and our city as we move forward from the challenges of COVID.

Mike Truelove, CEO of Hereford BID, says, “here in Hereford, we’re well placed to benefit from the impending boom of visitor traffic once restrictions ease. Hereford is a truly unique destination, steeped in history and charm, with so many benefits and the advantage of being a stone’s throw away from county attractions. Hereford BID will work with businesses and other stakeholders to ensure we capitalise on this and attract new visitors”.

If you have plans to reopen in any capacity as restrictions lift for your sector, please get in touch with the Hereford BID team to let us promote and support you via the Hereford City Life brand.

The COVID-19 Open for Business page will continue to offer a platform for takeaways and other businesses continuing to operate throughout lockdown and subsequent restrictions. If you need to be included on this page or have your information updated, please get in touch.

 

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