Coronavirus lockdown: What you can now do from Wednesday – and what you still cannot

Boris Johnson has altered the government’s advice as the UK enters its eighth week of lockdown.

The slogan of “stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives” has been changed to “stay alert, control the virus, save lives”.

The prime minister’s “conditional plan” for easing the coronavirus lockdown in England sets out three phases.

The loosening of restrictions will be based on scientific advice, such as keeping the ‘R number’ below 1.

Boris Johnson’s address to the nation raised “more questions than answers”, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told Sky News.

From Wednesday, you can now do the following:

• Travel to work if you cannot work from home, while avoiding public transport if possible. People using buses or trains are advised to wear a face covering
• Spend time outdoors – picnicking or sunbathing, for example
• Travel to an outdoor open space irrespective of distance, but not with someone from outside your household unless you can practise social distancing – for example by cycling
• Take day trips to an outdoor open space in a private vehicle
• Meet one other person from a different household outdoors, while following social distancing guidelines
• Exercise outdoors as often as you would like – again keeping at least two metres apart
• Use a tennis or a basketball court, or a golf course with members of your household, or one other person
• Go to a garden centre
• Students can return home if it is a permanent move

You still cannot do the following:

• Visit friends and family in their homes
• Exercise in an indoor sports court, gym or leisure centre, or go swimming in a public pool
• Use an outdoor gym or playground
• Visit a private or ticketed attraction
• Gather in a group of more than two (excluding members of your own household), except for a few specific exceptions set out in law (for work, funerals, house moves, supporting the vulnerable, in emergencies and to fulfil legal obligations)
• Leave your home to stay at another home
• Share a private vehicle with someone from another household
• Leave your home to stay at another home for a holiday or other purpose – including visiting second homes
• Invite anyone other than close family or friends, and someone from the deceased’s household, to a funeral

Fines

• Fines for breaking lockdown rules increase from £60 to £100. Repeat offenders will see the fine double for each subsequent breach to a maximum of £3,200

June

• Schools: Some classes could resume, starting with primary reception pupils, Year 1 and Year 6. The prime minister said the earliest return would be 1 June – but teaching unions have expressed serious doubts.
• Secondary pupils with exams next year will hopefully get some time with teachers before the summer, the PM said.
• Shops: A “phased reopening” could begin. Mr Johnson said 1 June would be the earliest possible date and promised more detail to come.
• The government says it is its “intention” to enable “small wedding ceremonies” from 1 June

July

• Restaurants and hotels: July is the earliest point at which “some of the hospitality industry and other public places” could re-open, the PM said. But only if “they are safe and enforce social distancing”.

What about the rest of the UK?

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make their own decisions on health, so Mr Johnson’s announcement only applies to England.

Wales announced a slight easing on Friday so that people can exercise more than once a day.

It also said garden centres could reopen and local authorities will start planning how to safely open libraries and recycling centres.

The cap on exercise was also scrapped by Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on Sunday.

However, she warned that it was not an excuse to meet in groups at parks or beaches, to sunbathe or have picnics and barbecues.

Northern Ireland’s roadmap will be announced this week and only minor changes are expected.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus lockdown: What you can now do from Wednesday – and what you still cannot