LOCKDOWN LOWDOWN
From golf courses to work – what Boris Johnson’s easing of coronavirus lockdown rules means for everyday life
BORIS Johnson has revealed his lockdown exit strategy for England after weeks of strict measures.
From returning to work, playing golf and unlimited exercise, here's our guide to what the latest rules mean for everyday life.
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However, all of the rules the PM mentioned are or England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are making different tweaks to the rules.
Building sites
PEOPLE in England should return to work from tomorrow if it is safe and they cannot work from home.
Boris Johnson specifically mentioned construction and manufacturing as he attempts to kick-start supply chains and house building.
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MPs, councils and business groups have been asked to submit details of infrastructure projects to the Treasury for approval.
Staff with work-from-home arrangements, and their employers, were instructed to stick to the status quo if possible.
Mr Johnson said those who can return to work should avoid public transport “if at all possible” as social distancing will cut capacity.
The Government will publish guidelines this week for how to protect staff and limit the spread of the virus in seven sectors of the economy.
Five main unions have threatened to tell members not to go to work under current plans.
Schools
PRIMARY school pupils should start to return in phases from next month but children at secondaries will be out until at least September.
Nurseries, reception year kids, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils will be the first to return after the summer half term.
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The Government wants to get all primary pupils back by the summer holidays. Early year pupils are seen as especially important as they are at a key learning stage.
Pupils in Year 6 are also at a crucial stage of learning, as this will be their final term before they start secondary school.
Year 10 and 12 pupils will be able to get limited face-to-face time with teachers to support their home learning ahead of GCSE and A-level exams next year.
All schools set to reopen before the summer holidays will be asked to put in place arrangements to limit contact between pupils over the next three weeks in readiness for the possible June 1 deadline.
But schools in Wales are set to stay firmly shut, the Welsh Government has stressed.
They have no timetable yet for when they will go back.
Pubs
PUBS will be among the last venues to be allowed to reopen under the Government’s road map out of lockdown.
They have been grouped with big spectator sports events and other mass public gatherings at the top of the risk table.
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They will have to remain shut until autumn at the earliest.
And they may even have to wait until whenever a coronavirus vaccine is ready for the public.
However pubs could find a way around the rules by converting into restaurants.
This would let them open if they adopt social distancing arrangements, such as keeping tables and customers two metres apart.
News about the delays in reopening pubs will further alarm industry bosses.
Just last week they warned that up to 15,000 pubs could close for good if they are not allowed to reopen until the end of September.
Non-essential shops
A PHASED reopening of non-essential shops is planned from June 1 across England.
It will mean outlets such as clothes shops, dry cleaners, sports retailers and kitchen stores trading for the first time in at least ten weeks.
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But they will have to comply with detailed new guidance on how to keep customers a safe distance apart, such as one-way systems.
Cash payments could be banned or discouraged.
Cinemas could be allowed to reopen from July, if they keep customers apart.
Hairdressers and nail bars may have to wait until at least the autumn.
Garden centres can reopen on Wednesday with staff given two days to install social-distancing tape and clear screens on tills. But their cafes and playgrounds must remain shut.
The Garden Centre Association’s Iain Wylie last night said: “This will be great for physical and mental wellbeing.”
Over-70s
NOTHING will change for the over-70s — who will continue to be advised to stay at home to protect themselves.
Government insiders said they must follow the “exact same rules” until further notice.
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Tonight, Boris Johnson said he was desperate to reach a stage where he can allow the over-70s back into society.
The PM praised the “fortitude of the elderly whose isolation we all want to end as fast as we can”.
NHS guidance states that all those aged 70 or older, regardless of medical conditions — and those under 70 with an underlying health condition listed on its website — must remain shielded indoors.
Campaigners have warned that forcing the elderly to remain detached from society while the rest of the nation starts to return to normal is discriminatory.
They added it risks sparking a mental health crisis among over-70s.
Restaurants
MOST restaurants must wait until July at the earliest before reopening their doors to diners.
They are categorised in the third phase of the roadmap to recovery, meaning the “R” reproduction rate of coronavirus could increase if they are allowed to start serving.
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But some eateries in the hospitality industry might be able to do business before July if they can apply social distancing.
Those which are able to site tables two metres and more apart could welcome customers once more.
Others with outdoor space — such as cafes in parks — stand more chance of opening up than rivals who can only house diners inside.
Takeaways have been urged to reopen immediately. Ministers say they were never under any obligation to close.
The big question remaining is how to keep employees safe in an industry with a high turnover of customers.
Parks
PEOPLE will be allowed to sunbathe, sit on benches and exercise as much as they want in England — as long as they continue to stay two metres apart from people outside of their household.
From Wednesday people will be allowed to meet up with a friend or family member in the park for the first time in seven weeks — but again they must stay two metres apart.
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Reading in the park will also be allowed, with inner city households given the ability to enjoy outdoor space for more than hour a day for the first time in weeks.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has already ordered all parks to keep their gates open after several councils deployed an over-zealous approach.
The guidance will see an end to council patrols rebuking people for catching rays or sitting on benches.
Some had even taped-up seats.
In Wales the Government has said people can exercise more than once a day but not that sunbathe, sit on park benches and exercise as much as they want.
Public transport
PASSENGERS will be told to cover faces, stay two metres apart and use hand sanitiser installed on platforms, trains and buses.
Transport companies will issue announcements on board and at stations reminding travellers, in several languages, to comply with the new rules.
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Buses will have signs telling people when they are full, while all payments will be made contactless so drivers do not have to handle cash.
One-way systems and markers to help everyone stay two metres apart will become the norm on train platforms and at bus stops.
But Brits will be urged to avoid public transport if they can, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urging commuters to ride, run or walk to work instead.
He announced £2billion for cycle lanes and road widening schemes to accommodate what the Government expects to be a cycling boom.
Exercise/gyms
GOLF courses will be allowed to reopen from Wednesday.
People can also play tennis, go angling or swim in the sea, lakes and rivers.
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But they must only do so with a member of their own household and stay at least two metres apart from others.
Restrictions will be lifted on driving to national parks or beaches — but only within England.
Gyms and pools are likely to stay closed at least until the autumn.
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