What's the roadmap for lifting lockdown?
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Pub gardens, gyms and non-essential shops can now open in England - as part of the next stage of easing lockdown rules.
So, what can you now? And what's the situation in other parts of the UK?
What are the rules in England?
More businesses can now open as part of Stage two easing of lockdown rules.
Outside, six people or two households can meet - even in private gardens.
You should continue to work from home if you can and minimise the number of journeys you make where possible.
Mixing indoors with people not in your household or bubble is still not allowed .
The following is now permitted or allowed to open:
- All shops
- Hairdressers, beauty salons and other close-contact services
- Restaurants and pubs (serving food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors)
- Gyms, spas, zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres
- Holidays in England in self-contained accommodation by members of the same household
- Non-essential journeys between England and Wales
- Weddings - up to 15 people
- Funerals - up to 30 people, with 15 at wakes
- Indoor children's activities
- Two care home visitors per resident
- Driving lessons - with driving tests restarting on 22 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
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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
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What are the rules in Wales?
- Six people from two different households (not counting children under 11) can meet and exercise outdoors and in private gardens.
- Households or support bubbles can holiday in self-contained accommodation - including hotels with en-suite facilities.
- All pupils and students can now return to school, college and other education.
- All shops and close-contact services can open
- The ban on travelling in and out of Wales has ended
- 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
- Organised outdoor activities and wedding receptions for up to 30 people can resume
From Monday 3 May:
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.
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
- Non-essential journeys to other parts of the UK could be permitted
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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)
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How are lockdown rules changing in Northern Ireland?
The stay-at-home order has been lifted after being in place for more than three months.
People have been told to "stay local" and continue to work from home where they can.
- Ten people from two households can meet up in private gardens
- Non-essential shops can resume click-and-collect
- Outdoor retail can reopen - including new and used car sales, garden centres and car washes
- Remaining school year groups 8-11 return to classes (years 1-3, 4-7 and 12-14 have already returned)
- Sports training with up to 15 people can resume
The limit on the number of people allowed to attend a wedding, civil partnership or funeral has also been removed.
Venues instead will again have to assess how many people they can safely accommodate in line with a risk assessment.
Read the current lockdown rules: