What's the roadmap for lifting lockdown?

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The opening of pub gardens and non-essential shops in England can go ahead on 12 April, the government has confirmed.

It said "stage two" of lifting lockdown was possible as its four tests for easing Covid restrictions were being met.

So, what will you soon be able to do in England, and what's the situation in other parts of the UK?

What are the rules in England?

Stage two (from 12 April):

More businesses will open, but indoor settings should be visited alone, or with household groups. Outside, six people or two households can meet.

  • All shops allowed to open
  • Hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services can open
  • Restaurants and pubs allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors
  • Gyms and spas can reopen, as can zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres
  • Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation
  • Weddings - up to 15 people
  • Funerals - up to 30 people, with 15 at wakes
  • Children will be able to attend any indoor children's activity
  • Care home visitors will increase to two per resident
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image captionIt's hoped pubs will be able to serve outdoors in England from 12 April

Stage three (no earlier than 17 May):

  • People can meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors
  • Six people or two households can meet indoors
  • Domestic overnight stays allowed with people not in your household or bubble
  • Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can seat customers indoors
  • Up to 30 people can attend weddings or other life events, like christenings
  • Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can open
  • Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and children's play areas can open
  • Performances and large events can restart, but with limits on audience numbers
  • Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen
  • International leisure travel may resume
  • Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can restart

Stage four (no earlier than 21 June):

  • It's hoped all legal limits on social contact will be removed
  • No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events
  • Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen

What can I already do?

What are the four tests for easing restrictions?

  • The coronavirus vaccine programme continues to go to plan
  • Vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying or needing hospital treatment
  • Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions
  • New coronavirus variants do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting restrictions

What are the rules in Wales?

From 12 April at the earliest:

  • All pupils and students return to school, college and other education
  • All shops and close-contact services can open
  • The ban on travelling in and out of Wales ends
  • Driving lessons can resume and some driving tests (remainder on 22 April)

From Monday 26 April:

  • Outdoor hospitality, including cafes, pubs and restaurants can open
  • Outdoor attractions, including funfairs and theme parks can open

From Monday 3 May:

  • Organised outdoor activities and wedding receptions for up to 30 people can resume

From Monday 10 May:

  • People can form extended households again, allowing two households to meet and have contact indoors
  • Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen; individual and one-to-one training will be allowed, but not exercise classes

From Monday 17 May:

  • Children's indoor activities can resume
  • Community centres can open
  • Organised indoor activities for adults, limited to a maximum of 15 people; this includes exercise classes

Pubs, cafes and restaurants could be allowed to reopen indoors in time for the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May - but a decision won't be taken until at least 17 May.

What can I already do?

  • All travel restrictions have been lifted within the country - residents can travel anywhere within Welsh borders
  • Six people from two different households (not counting children under 11) can meet and exercise outdoors and in private gardens
  • Organised outdoor activities and sports for children and under-18s can resume
  • Limited opening of outdoor areas of some historic places and gardens
  • Libraries and archives can reopen
  • Self-contained holiday accommodation, including hotels with en-suite facilities and room service, can open to people from the same household or support bubble. But non-essential travel to and from other UK nations remains banned

How are lockdown rules changing in Scotland?

12-20 April (depending on term dates):

  • All pupils back at school full-time

From 26 April:

  • Return to the "levels" system of local restrictions, with the whole country in level three "if the data allows"
  • Travel within mainland Scotland allowed
  • Up to six people from up to three households can socialise outdoors (six 12 to 17-year-olds can meet socially from six households outdoors)
  • Up to four people from two households can socialise indoors in a public place, such as a cafe or restaurant, but alcohol can't be served
  • All shops and close-contact services like nail salons can reopen
  • Cafes, pubs and restaurants can open until 20:00 indoors (no alcohol) and 22:00 outdoors (alcohol permitted); takeaway food can be collected indoors
  • Gyms can open for individual exercise
  • Indoor attractions and public buildings such as galleries, museums and libraries can open
  • Non-essential work in other people's homes can take place
  • Driving lessons and tests can take place
  • Funerals and weddings including post-funeral events and receptions can take place with up to 50 people (no alcohol)
  • Tourist accommodation can open with restrictions in place
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From 17 May:

  • All areas of Scotland in level three should move to level two
  • Up to four people from two households can socialise indoors in a private home
  • Hospitality venues return to "greater normality", possibly serving alcohol indoors until 22:30. Customers may be asked to book two-hour slots. Alcohol can be served outdoors until 22:00
  • Outdoor adult contact sport and indoor group exercise can restart
  • Cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls can reopen
  • Small outdoor and indoor events can resume, with restrictions
  • Face-to-face support services can resume

Early June:

  • It's hoped all areas of Scotland in level two will move to level one
  • Up to six people from up to three households can socialise indoors
  • Up to eight people from three households can socialise outdoors (Eight 12 to 17-year-olds from eight households can meet socially outdoors)
  • Hospitality can remain open until 23:00
  • Indoor non-contact sport can take place

Late June:

  • It's hoped all areas of Scotland in level one will move to level zero

What can I already do?

  • The stay at home rule has changed to stay local
  • Outdoor mixing (four people from up to two households)
  • Outdoors non-contact group sports for 12 to 17-year-olds
  • More shops can reopen, including: garden centres (indoor and outdoor), key cutters and homeware stores
  • Non-essential click-and-collect can resume
  • Hairdressers and barbers (but not mobile services) can reopen for pre-booked appointments
  • Communal worship (up to 50 people with social distancing)

How are lockdown rules changing in Northern Ireland?

From 12 April:

  • Remaining school year groups 8-11 return (Years 1-3, 4-7 and 12-14 have already returned)
  • Stay-at-home message relaxed
  • All other non-essential retail can operate click-and-collect
  • Sports training with up to 15 people can resume
  • Up to 10 people from two households can meet in a private garden

What can I already do?

  • People can now meet for exercise in groups of up to 10 from two households
  • Golf and other outdoor sporting activities can resume (although clubhouses and sports facilities must stay closed)
  • Six people from two households can meet in a private garden
  • Garden centres can operate click-and-collect services

Read the current lockdown rules:

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