When does lockdown end? Everything we do and don’t know ahead of Boris Johnson’s announcement

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is ready to announce England’s exit technique out of lockdown subsequent week, providing some hope of when restrictions might start to carry.

The so-called ‘highway map’ will define how restrictions will ease and once we can anticipate the method to start.

Whereas the plans have to date been saved underneath wraps there’s loads of info already on the market to counsel what could possibly be introduced.

The Prime Minister has warned individuals to take stories with a pinch of salt as dates could possibly be topic to alter, so now we have rounded up what’s confirmed and what’s simply hypothesis at this stage.

Johnson is predicted to announce the complete highway map to MPs within the Home of Commons on Monday, February 22 earlier than then addressing the nation.

This is every little thing we do know to date, and what we’re nonetheless ready for solutions on:

What do we all know

Colleges would be the first to reopen

A pupil wears a protecting face masks throughout a chemistry lesson

For weeks now ministers have acknowledged that their precedence is to get kids again into the classroom.

Colleges can be given two weeks discover earlier than reopening, so the February 22 announcement tallies with the intention for a March 8 return.

It is not clear whether or not all college students would return without delay, though stories counsel that is the intention as quickly as potential.

Experiences counsel that to make this protected college students in secondary faculties can be required to check twice per week, to cease the virus spreading amongst employees and pupils.

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The order of what comes subsequent

That is the place dates get a bit extra hazy, however we already know that this can be a spaced out and gradual journey out of lockdown.

Having the ability to meet exterior with one different particular person to sit down within the park, or play out of doors sports activities resembling tennis or golf, can be allowed quickly after, however different reopenings should wait.

Non-essential retail is predicted to observe after, with one other pause earlier than the hospitality trade can reopen.

The hope is that by staggering the reopenings, consultants can spotlight the place infections are coming from and management the state of affairs reasonably than being overwhelmed.

Outside recreation can be allowed once more quickly

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A lady studying a e-book while sunbathing within the scorching climate, in London Fields park

One of many small reliefs throughout final spring was when individuals had been allowed to benefit from the hotter climate once more, whether or not alone or with one other particular person.

At the moment individuals are solely presupposed to be exterior whereas exercising or for one more important purpose.

It is doubtless that it will solely be the case for a short while longer.

This could enable picnics (whereas following guidelines on family mixing) can be allowed, and a few stories counsel kids will not be included inside the two-person restrict.

Sports activities that may lend themselves to social distancing are prone to observe quickly after, however not right away.

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It is going to be nationwide

The regional tier system is prone to be left behind, for some time a minimum of, for a nationwide method.

The controversial system noticed completely different elements of the nation put underneath completely different guidelines, which was particularly powerful throughout the Christmas interval as Tier 4 was swiftly imposed on a lot of the south east.

Nevertheless, following considerations about new variants it appears extra doubtless {that a} nationwide method can be taken – though this might range barely between the 4 international locations inside the UK.

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Masks and social distancing are right here to remain

Even with the vaccine rollout nicely underway, it is not time to ditch the masks but.

The sporting of masks, social distancing and hand washing on entry to retailers might all be right here to remain nicely into future.

Most of those aren’t very invasive or an enormous price for companies to impose, so there could also be no purpose to carry them till the pandemic is totally handed.

The Prime Minister has to date resisted making masks necessary in out of doors public areas regardless of stress round Christmas, however that could possibly be a rule quickly launched to counteract among the reopenings.

Vaccine passports aren’t on the playing cards

Earlier this week Mr Johnson confirmed that the UK weren’t wanting into vaccine passports, though acknowledged it is inconceivable to manage what different international locations do.

This may occasionally imply it’s a must to show you’ve gotten been given a jab earlier than going overseas, however not earlier than going to the retailers or a pub.

What we do not know

When pubs and hospitality companies will reopen

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Cops on patrol round cafes and pubs in Cardiff

It is virtually sure that they are going to be amongst the final locations to be allowed to reopen, however an precise date is totally up within the air.

Newspaper stories have steered a beer backyard reopening earlier than the Easter weekend on the finish of March, whereas others say Could could possibly be extra practical.

The PM says that he’ll solely make a name as soon as he has seen extra knowledge in direction of the top of this week.

The place gyms and hairdressers match into the plan

Gyms have jumped between classes throughout lockdown measures, with a dispute about whether or not the bodily well being advantages outweigh the an infection danger.

They had been initially closed in some Tier 3 areas, earlier than a u-turn meant they remained open besides throughout nationwide lockdown and Tier 4 restrictions.

Hairdressers and sweetness salons have additionally not often been talked about, final time they opened on the identical date as pubs however it’s not clear if so once more.

When will sport stadiums and nightlife reopen?

As talked about, as a substitute of vaccine passports it seems that the federal government are prioritising lateral move testing as a approach of reopening massive occasions.

This implies you possibly can take a take a look at earlier than getting into a nightclub, live performance enviornment or a stadium.

Nevertheless, that also appears a way off and could possibly be too dangerous to incorporate within the roadmap subsequent week.

If we will begin planning holidays this yr – within the UK or overseas

Passengers going through the UK Border at Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport

Passengers going by means of the UK Border at Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport

One contentious problem is whether or not we can have the traditional summer season we would hoped for.

With international locations at completely different phases of the vaccine rollout, it appears unlikely that worldwide journey can be mentioned at this level, and folks have been warned in opposition to reserving something.

Nevertheless, it is doubtless that some UK staycations can be allowed comparatively quickly with the suggestion in some newspapers that self-catered breaks might begin as quickly as Easter.

When any of it will occur

Nevertheless, there are lots of ‘might’s and ‘stories counsel’ at this level.

In line with the Prime Minister he hasn’t signed off on any dates but both, which might clarify why stories range so massively.

It is anticipated that it is going to be a really gradual course of, so anticipate the following couple of months mapped out when the Prime Minister does tackle the nation.

All we all know for certain is that March 8 would be the earliest date for the primary easing.

Past that we’re prone to be given the earliest potential dates for lifting restrictions, and these could possibly be pushed again if vital.

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