On the 22nd of February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put forth the government's roadmap portraying the steady ease of lockdown restrictions in England. The roadmap consists of four different stages, each designed to let us gradually return to a regular way of life. Vaccinations will play a key role in the roadmap; the Prime Minister claimed, “Thanks to the vaccinations there is light ahead”.
The four stages of the roadmap lead to the potential release of all the lockdown restrictions on June 21st, the first stage being the re-opening of schools and colleges on March 8th. This re-opening also includes the allowance of outdoor extra-curricular activities and recreation with two people from different households in outdoor spaces such as parks.
Afterwards, at the start of the Easter holidays restrictions will be eased again. From the 29th of March gatherings of up to six people from two households will be allowed to happen. Additionally, sporting facilities will be re-opened, allowing organised family and group sport to return also.
At stage two starting from the 12th of April, we will see more economic openings occur. Non-essential stores, indoor leisure facilities, outdoor settings, self-contained holiday accommodation and certain public buildings will re-open. Social contact rules will most likely remain the same.
No earlier than from the 17th of May will the ‘rule of six’ be abolished, allowing outdoor gatherings of up to thirty people. Stage three also brings forth the allowance of mixing between two households indoors, the re-opening of Cinemas, museums, hotels and theatrical performances. Sporting events will also be allowed to re-open, but up to no more than ten-thousand spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor-seated venues.
As such the fourth and final step of the government’s newly announced roadmap will be the complete removal of all other legal restrictions on social contact. Other restrictions such as those on weddings, funerals and festivals may also be removed. The roadmap does provide the possibility for an optimistic future, however all the re-openings mentioned before are all determined on circumstance.
