From cinemas to nightclubs – the nine Covid test events paving Britain’s way to freedom
BRITAIN is edging slowly out of lockdown - with people beginning to dream of a summer of fun...
Plans are starting to be made for weekends, and diaries hopefully filled in for future activities.
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There are nine key test events that will help pave the way to freedom.
These include trial runs of mass sporting events, nights out in a club and cinema pilots.
The Covid passport system will be trialled at some of the pilot events over the next few weeks, where experts will also explore how high-tech ventilation and Covid tests on entry are working.
NHS chiefs are developing a new app members of the public will have to show to gain access to sports stadiums, theatres, festivals and nightclubs.
Boris Johnson will study the feedback to help decide how to manage other large-scale gatherings as restrictions are lifted.
NIGHTCLUBS
At the end of the month 3,000 dance fans will be invited to get a ticket to crowd together in a club.
The venue hasn't been confirmed, but they will run in Liverpool from April 30 - May 1.
They will be run by Circus, behind many of the city's favourite night outs.
Researchers will monitor how people fare mingling closely with one another, with tests taken to see any infection spread.
CINEMAS
Again, in Liverpool, one thousand film buffs will be let into an open-air cinema event.
Movies will be shown from April 23-25 on the Waterfront.
Film choices have not been announced, but Luna Cinema founder George Wood said: "After months only being able to watch films at home, the return of big-screen cinema experience will get us excited."
FOOTBALL
The FA Cup Semi-Final, the FA Cup Final and the Carabao Cup Final will see live sport back with a bang.
Starting on April 18 with the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley Stadium, 4,000 fans will be let in for the spectacle.
Only locals, including Brent Council staff and NHS workers, will be allowed to watch the clash between Leicester City and Southampton.
April 25 will see another 4,000 fans watch Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City battle it out for that Carabao Cup Final crown.
They will have to return a negative lateral flow test 24 hours before attending, showing proof to get in.
And following the match they must take a PCR home test to get the all clear.
Then on May 15, 21,000 fans will head to Wembley Stadium to watch the FA Cup Finals.
COMEDY
The first venue to see crowds back in is the M&S Bank arena in Liverpool.
300 people will watch comics perform at an event put on by the Hot Water Comedy Club.
The venue usually holds 1,200 but will be the metaphorical toe dip into normality with far less people packed in.
SNOOKER
The beloved Crucible will be opened up again from April 17 - May 3.
It'll be a full house of 1,000 in the Sheffield venue.
Tickets for each day have already been snapped up by fans eager to get back to live action.
BUSINESS EVENT
A key player in the test to get Britain back to normality is the conference at ACC Liverpool on April 29.
One thousand business people will gather for the day to see how smoothly it goes in the new normal.
Every attendee will have to have a lateral flow test before they are allowed to mingle in the crowds.
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MASS RUNS
And three fun runs at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire are set to test out how safely a large running event can be carried out.
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A trio of 10km races will run from April 24-25 with 3,000 participants and 3,000 spectators.
It is expected to be flooded with interest from runners starved of events over the past year.