Today the Prime Minister set out our roadmap for a cautious easing of national restrictions, which will ensure we do not undo the incredible progress we have made so far.
I am glad to see this medium-term plan of what lies ahead. This has been one of my top priorities and I have consistently made Broxtowe’s case to Government. After this difficult year, businesses need certainty and I know families and friends are longing to get back together again.
Really grateful that because people have been adhering to the restrictions, and that the vaccination programme here in Nottinghamshire is going so well that we can now see a light at the end of the tunnel.
On this note, I am delighted to see that now, more than 1 in 3 adults have now had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and this will hopefully be every adult by the end of July! However, before proceeding to the next step, the Government will examine the data to assess the impact of the previous step.
This assessment will be based on four tests:
- The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
- Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.
The full roadmap can be found here www.gov.uk/.../publ.../covid-19-response-spring-2021 and a quick summary can be found below 👇🏿
Step 1: 8th March
• Schools and colleges reopen for all students
• Recreation or exercise outdoors with household or one other person. No household mixing indoors.
• Funerals of 30, wakes and weddings of 6.
Step 1: 29th March
• Rule of 6 or two households outdoors.
• Outdoor sports and leisure facilities.
• Organised outdoor sport allowed.
• Minimise travel. No holidays.
Step 2: at least five weeks after Step 1, no earlier than 12th April
• Indoor leisure (including gyms) open for use individually or within household groups.
• Rule of 6 or two households outdoors. No household mixing indoors.
• Outdoor attractions such as zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas.
• Libraries and community centres.
• Personal care premises.
• All retail.
• Outdoor hospitality.
• All children’s activities.
• Domestic overnight stays (household only).
• Self-contained accommodation (household only).
• Funerals (30), wakes and weddings (15).
• Minimise travel. No international holidays.
• Event pilots begin.
Step 3: no earlier than 17th May
• Indoor entertainment and attractions.
• 30 person limit outdoors.
• Rule of 6 or two households indoors.
• Domestic overnight stays.
• Organised indoor or adult sport.
• Most significant life events (30).
• Remaining outdoor entertainment (including performances).
• Remaining accommodation.
• Some large events: indoor 1,000 or 50%, outdoor 4,000 or 50%, outdoor seated 10,000 or 25%.
• International review – subject to review.
Step 4: at least 5 weeks after Step 3, no earlier than 21st June
• No legal limits on social contacts.
• Nightclubs.
• Larger events.
• No legal limit on all life even