Boris Johnson announces lockdown easing measures: All the dates you need to know
The Prime Minister has announced his roadmap in the House of Commons
Last updated 22nd Feb 2021
Boris Johnson has announced when all children can start going back to school as well as dates for when other lockdown restrictions will begin to ease.
This afternoon the Prime Minister told MPs about his plan for easing England's lockdown and set out a potential timeline of when things can be re-opened.
In a speech in the House of Commons Mr Johnson said that all pupils in all years in England can go back to the classroom from March 8, with a further easing of restrictions taking place on March 29 and several other dates for more relaxations of the rules.
He described it as a 'cautious but irreversible' plan, saying he wanted every adult to be vaccinated by the end of July, meaning more restrictions could be lifted.
What dates will lockdown restrictions be lifted in England?
8 March: ALL pupils in England back to school
From 8 March 2021, all pupils in all year groups were allowed to go back into the classroom. Outdoor after-school sports clubs and activities were also allowed to resume.
8 March: Socialising outdoors with one other person
Two people from different households are now allowed to meet up outdoors in parks and public spaces. This means that people can sit down for a picnic or a drink, whereas previously, you could only meet someone outside your household for exercise.
29 March: Stay at Home rule liften
From 29 March, once the school Easter holidays have started, the Government will lift the stay at home rule but will continue to encourage people to stay local.
29 March: Larger group gatherings outdoors
From March 29 the "rule of six" will be re introduced alongside the the two household rule.
The "rule of six" means that up to six people from different households can meet outside.
More people will be able gather together if they are only from two households, giving greater flexibility for families and friends.
29 March: Outdoor sports facilities allowed to open
Outdoor sports facilities including tennis and basketball courts will be permitted to reopen from 29 March.
29 March: Organised adult and children's sport
Meanwhile organised adult and children's sport, such as grassroot football clubs, can also resume from March 29
29 March: Weddings with 6 people
From 29 March, weddings with 6 people will be permitted to take place. The number of guests allowed to attend weddings will increase as we move through the roadmap.
12 April: shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality venues
From 12 April at the earliest, shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions, including zoos, and outdoor hospitality venues will be permitted to reopen.
12 April: Beer gardens reopen
From 12 April, outdoor beer gardens will also be allowed to reopen.
12 April: Gyms reopen
Gyms are expected to reopen from 12 April.
17 May: Indoor mixing
From May 17 at earliest, two households or groups of up to six people can mix indoors and limited crowds will be allowed to return to sporting events. Children's play areas will be opened alongside hotels, and limited groups will be allowed in theatres.
17 May: Possible foreign travel
Foreign travel may be permitted from 17 May.
17 May: Indoor hospitality
Indoor hospitality including pubs and restaurants could reopen from 17 May.
21 June: Nightclubs could reopen
From 21 June all remaining restrictions on social distancing could be lifted, and larger events may be allowed to resume, including theatres. Nightclubs may also be allowed to reopen.
21 June: Bigger weddings
Bigger wedding celebrations may be permitted from 21 June.
More details on the lockdown easing dates
As well as the schools going back on the 8 March further restrictions will be lifted on March 29.
Boris Johnson said “limited changes” will be made on March 29 when schools go on Easter holidays, telling MPs: “It’ll become possible to meet in limited numbers outdoors where the risk is lower.
“So the rule of six will return outdoors including in private gardens and outdoor meetings of two households will also be permitted on the same basis, so that families in different circumstances can meet.”
Organised sport will return and we will also be able to travel to see family and friends as long as it's in keeping with the rule of six or two households rule.
From April 12 at the earliest: Non-essential retail and personal care, including hairdressers and nail salons, will open along with gyms while holiday lets can be used by individuals or household groups.
Mr Johnson told MPs: “We will begin to reopen our pubs and restaurants outdoors and honourable members will be relieved there will be no curfew and the Scotch egg debate will be over as there will be no requirement for alcohol to be accompanied by a substantial meal.”
Zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas will also reopen in this phase along with public libraries and community centres, Mr Johnson said.
From May 17 at the earliest, two households or groups of up to six people will be allowed to mix indoors and limited crowds will be allowed at sporting events. Children's play areas will be opened alongside hotels, and limited groups will be allowed in theatres.
He told MPs: “This is the point where you will be able to see your friends and family indoors subject to the rule of six or meeting of two households.
“We will also reopen pubs and restaurants indoors along with cinemas, children’s play areas, hotels, hostels and B&Bs, theatres and concert halls will reopen their doors.
“The turnstiles of our sports stadia will once again rotate, subject in all cases to capacity limits depending on the size of the venue.”
Larger events will be piloted using “enhanced testing” with an ambition of further easing of restrictions in the next step, Mr Johnson said.
International travel rules will also be reviewed, with May 17 targeted as the earliest possible date for a foreign holiday.
Boris Johnson told MPs Step Four will begin no earlier than June 21.
He told the Commons that in step four “we will aim to remove all legal limits on social contact and on weddings and other life events, we will reopen everything up to and including nightclubs and enable large events such as theatre performances above the limits of step three – potentially using testing to reduce the risk of infection”.
What did Boris say about lifting lockdown
Making a statement in the Commons, the Prime Minister said: “The threat remains substantial with the numbers in hospital only now beginning to fall below the peak of the first wave in April.
“But we are able to take these steps because of the resolve of the British people and the extraordinary success of our NHS in vaccinating more than 17.5 million people across the UK.”
He added that “no vaccine can ever be 100% effective”, telling MPs: “So, as the modelling released by Sage today shows, we cannot escape the fact that lifting lockdown will result in more cases, more hospitalisations and sadly more deaths.
“And this would happen whenever lockdown is lifted – whether now or in six or nine months – because there will always be some vulnerable people who are not protected by the vaccines.
“There is therefore no credible route to a zero Covid Britain, or indeed, a zero Covid world and we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental wellbeing and the life chances of our children.”
The four tests to lift lockdown
While the dates outlined are the earliest possible lifting of restrictions, how quickly we progress through those further lockdown easing steps depends on meeting these four tests:
- The success of the vaccine rollout
- Evidence of vaccine efficacy
- An assessment of new variants
- Keeping infection rates below a level that could put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
However, Number 10 insisted that the “stay at home” message would remain in place despite the relaxation of some restrictions.
The changes will apply across England, rather than on a regional basis.