Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed his roadmap to exiting lockdown on Monday – the big plan to finally guide England out of restrictions and back towards something like ordinary life.
Speculation in the days prior to the speech on 22 February had been rife, with the PM confirming he wanted this to be the final time the country required a lockdown.
Unveiling his roadmap, Johnson revealed there would be four steps involved – with different sectors opening at various stages from now until June.
Johnson acknowledged that whilst the UK would “not eradicate this disease” permanently, the rapid rollout of the vaccine means that the nation is “travelling on a one-way road to freedom”.
The PM’s regular COVID press conference flankers Professor Christ Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance were also cautiously optimistic when reflecting on the roadmap, but admitted it did involve a degree of risk.
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Under the current plan, masks, social distancing measures and all COVID legislature could be completely lifted by June 21 – but Vallance did warn these measures may need to come back in winter if cases rise again.
Nonetheless, if the strategy succeeds, England will be free of restrictions within 17 weeks.
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Here’s what that full roadmap looks like.
Yesterday I set out our four-step roadmap to ease restrictions across England and provide a route back to a more normal way of life.
On Monday 8th March, schools and colleges across England will reopen, and teaching in classrooms can start again.
Meeting with a friend for coffee is permitted from March 8 – Image: Karen Cantú Q via Unsplash
The first changes to COVID rules will commence from March 8.
From this date, all children and students will return to face-to-face education in schools and college.
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March 8 will also offer more social freedoms – with people permitted to visit one other person for socialising, not just exercise.
Care home residents in England will also be allowed one regular visitor from March 8.
Restrictions on meeting others will be relaxed further in time for the Easter break.
From March 29, six people or two separate households/families will be allowed to meet in private gardens or outdoors.
Outdoor sports facilities, such as tennis and basketball courts, may also reopen from March 29.
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The official Stay at Home Order will end on this date – although many lockdown restrictions will remain in force.
People will still be encouraged to work from home where possible, with the vast majority of overseas travel banned.
Step 2 – April 12
Beer gardens will reopen on April 12 / Image: ELEVATE via Pexels
The second step is a big one for many businesses.
April 12 is the date where a wide variety of sectors will be allowed to reopen their doors, including shops, hairdressers, barbers, gyms, animal centres, and accommodation centres.
Pubs will also be permitted to serve people in outdoor settings.
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The list of places able to reopen from April 12 (at the earliest) include:
Non-essential retail, such as shops.
Personal care premises, such as hairdressers and nail salons.
Public buildings, such as libraries and community centres.
Most outdoor attractions and settings, including zoos, and theme parks.
Drive-in cinemas and drive-in performances.
Indoor leisure facilities, such as gyms and swimming pools.
Hospitality venues can serve customers outdoors only for table service. Regulations around substantial meals and curfews have been abolished.
Self-contained accommodation, such as holiday lets.
Funerals can continue with up to 30 people.
Weddings, receptions and wake attendance limits will rise to 15 (from 6)..
Step 3 – May 17
International travel could be allowed by May / Image: Pixabay
Step three is the point at which most social contact rules will be lifted in outdoor settings.
Gatherings with more than 30 people, however, will remain illegal.
This is also the date when indoor pubs can reopen, with spectators returning to live events.
International travel – including holidays – may also be allowed from this point, subject to review.
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The full list of places reopening on this date is as follows:
Cinemas, soft play areas, and the rest of the accommodation sector including hotels and B&Bs.
Indoor adult group sports and exercise classes classes can resume.
Larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower) will also be allowed.
Performances will be permitted in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is lower).
In the largest outdoor seated venues where crowds can spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).
Weddings, receptions, wakes, funerals attendance limits will be 30 people.
Step 4 – June 21
Nightclubs are set to reopen on June 21 after being closed for over a year / Image: Harrison Haines / Pexels
This is the date that “all legal limits on social contact can be removed.”
On this date, all remaining venues will reopen.
This includes nightclubs – which will have been shut for 15 months by the time they are allowed to welcome back customers again.
All restrictions on performances and events will also be removed on June 21.
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Social distancing measures may be removed from this date.
BREAKING: The 4 steps to lifting lockdown in England.
There will be weeks between each step: 4 weeks to reflect on the data followed by 1 week notice to be given to relevant sectors and the public. pic.twitter.com/7RTql0pV7S
Digital driving licences will be introduced across the UK later this year
Emily Sergeant
Digital driving licences are set to be introduced across the UK later this year, it has been announced.
Science Secretary Peter Kyle has announced today that, before 2025 is out, Brits will be given the option to use a digital version of their driver’s licence from their phone to easily prove their age when buying age restricted items online and in person, as well as proving their right to drive.
A mobile driver’s licence is set to be one of the first digital documents in a GOV.UK wallet app that’s being launched later this year.
— Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (@SciTechgovuk) January 21, 2025
The new wallet will allow users to securely store Government-issued documents on their phone, such as DBS checks, Veteran Cards, and loads more, as well as driving licences, and use them easily when needed by making use of a range of security features that are built into modern smart phones – including facial recognition checks.
According to the Government, the new service means that digital documents will be more secure, even if a device is lost.
Traditional physical documents will still remain available, however.
Digital driving licences will be introduced across the UK later this year / Credit: GDS
The mobile driver’s licence will be piloted later in 2025, and all Government services will have to offer a digital alternative, alongside paper or card credentials, by the end of 2027 under plans set out by the blueprint for digital Government.
“This is a game changer for the millions of people who use their driving licence as ID,” commented Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander.
“The innovation puts power back in the hands of the people, making everyday interactions faster, easier, and more secure. We are delivering on the Plan for Change by making public services work for everyone.”
Featured Image – Pxhere
News
Plans to bring Greater Manchester’s rail services onto the Bee Network unveiled
Emily Sergeant
Ambitious plans to bring all rail services in Greater Manchester onto the Bee Network have been unveiled this week.
After the success of all the region’s buses returning to local control at the start of the year, Mayor Andy Burnham has set out Greater Manchester’s step-by-step plan to bring rail into the Bee Network by 2028, working alongside the rail industry to do this as the next part of his joined-up ‘London-style’ public transport system, which is intended to boost passenger numbers, and drive growth across the region.
Developed in partnership with the rail industry, Department for Transport (DfT) and Shadow Great British Rail, Mr Burnham says his plan is aimed at not only improving transport but unlocking major regeneration and housing opportunities on land around the region’s stations too.
Greater Manchester’s proposition is for eight commuter rail lines, covering 64 stations, to be brought into the Bee Network in three phases over the next five years.
Under the plan, the first two lines – which will work to connect Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge, in Tameside – will join the Bee Network by December 2026, and then a further 32 stations, and all lines within Greater Manchester, would join by 2030.
Not only that, but Greater Manchester leaders have also committed to working with the Government and the rail industry to “improve reliability” and “implement service changes” to help drive growth too.
If all goes to plan, the first branded Bee Network train will be running by the end of 2026.
Bus, tram and train will finally be united in a tap-in, tap-out payment system with a daily cap offering much better value for money than existing rail fares.
Another major change is that TfGM has said it will work with the rail industry to accelerate the delivery of accessibility improvements – with more than 60% of stations on the eight lines set to have step-free access by 2028, compared to 43% at the end of 2024.
“Our rail system today is acting as a brake on growth and, as the UK’s fastest growing city-region, Greater Manchester deserves better,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, as he unveiled his plans this week.
“We need a railway that is reliable and fully integrated with the rest of the Bee Network to drive growth and deliver new homes with public transport connections on the doorstep.
“Our plan puts passengers first by delivering a simplified, joined-up public transport network, with better services, stations and overall experience. Only by making travel by train more reliable, simpler, flexible and accessible to everyone, will we convince more people to leave the car at home and make the switch to the Bee Network.”
The Manc -
23rd February 2021 
