Coronavirus roadmap: When will England’s lockdown end?
Boris Johnson has outlined a roadmap for the end of England’s lockdown, giving hope that coronavirus social distancing could end before Christmas.
Johnson changed tack on government guidance to work from home where possible in a speech on 17 July. Instead employers will be asked to discuss with employees whether and how they can safely return to offices.
And the PM also signalled that public transport restrictions could be relaxed in the coming weeks.
He also outlined a series of steps in a roadmap the government hopes will mark the end of England’s lockdown.
Social distancing could end in November, with Johnson adding that he was hopeful of a “significant return to normality” by Christmas.
The coronavirus recovery plan builds on announcements made on 4 July.
Those saw:
- Social distancing cut from two metres to one-metre-plus
- Pubs, cafes, restaurants reopening
- Galleries, museums, cinemas reopening
- Hairdressers, gyms and fitness facilities reopening
- Indoor meetings allowed between households
- Outdoor meetings allowed between households
Read on below for the major next steps in England’s end of lockdown roadmap.
Public transport is back: 17 July
People are now able to use public transport again immediately, the PM has said.
Anyone can now use any method of transport they like, as long as they adhere to one-metre-plus social distancing rules.
End of lockdown roadmap: 25 July
Earlier this month culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced that indoor gyms, swimming pools and sport facilities will all be able to open from 25 July.
Leisure facilities: 1 August
Audiences adhering to social distancing will be able to return to indoor theatres, music and performance venues from the beginning of August.
Other leisure facilities like bowling alleys and casinos can also open under England’s end of lockdown roadmap.
So will beauticians and other “close contact services”, the Prime Minister said.
However, nightclubs and soft play areas will remain closed for the time being.
Wedding receptions with up to 30 people will also be permitted.
Back to workplaces: 1 August
August is also a big month for workplaces, and by extension retailers in cities.
The government will scrap its guidance to work from home where possible. Instead it will ask employers to make the decision over whether to return to offices.
Employers should ensure they create a safe, socially distanced workspace for staff. And they should consult employees on the decision and agree on when and how staff can return safely to offices.
Though Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser, also said he saw “absolutely no reason” to stop working from home. “For many companies [it] remains a perfectly good option because it’s easy to do.”
Schools and nurseries: 1 September
As previously announced, schools, nurseries, and colleges will all be open on a full time basis from September.
Universities are also working to reopen as fully as possible, the government said.
Sport stadiums: 1 October
Spectators will be allowed to return sports stadium from the start of October, with a number of trial events to take place in August.
These are expected to include two men’s county cricket friendly matches – such as Surrey v Middlesex at The Oval on 26-27 July – the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre from 31 July, and the Glorious Goodwood horse racing festival on 1 August.
Conferences and business events will also be allowed to go ahead from 1 October.
England lockdown ends? November/December
If the UK does not experience a second wave of coronavirus infections then England’s lockdown could end by Christmas, the PM has said.
“It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest,” Johnson said on 17 July.
That would include the end of the one-metre social distancing rule. This would be the biggest step to an end to lockdown in England so far.