UK Enters Next Phase Of Easing Lockdown

The UK has released a list of further measures which come as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap to releasing the lock down that was put in place due to the Covid 19 pandemic. This is because the rate at which people are dying due to the disease has gone down meaning people have been following the measures which were put in place to try and control the rate at which it has been spreading round the country. This means that as of Monday seventeenth May, people will have more freedom as to the way they lead their lives. They will have to exercise their own judgement at times and ensure they stay with in the boundaries of the new regulations which have been put in place and maintain that everybody else that they come in to contact with remains safe and healthy. So what has changed and why?

People should continue to try and work from home, when ever they can. This is to try and reduce the amount of social contact with other people, some of whom may be carrying the virus. When travelling with in the UK, you should aim to do this in as safe a way as possible, always carry round hand sanitizer or get to ensure that your hands are kept clean and there is as small a risk as possible of accidentally transferring bacteria and viruses from your hands to other surfaces. This can be a danger to all other people who may come in to contact with the same surface area and continue to transfer the virus from place to place.

If you experience Covid 19 symptoms, you should stay at home, order a test and ensure you follow all the correct guidance with regard to working from home and the time it takes to recover from the virus. You should not come in to contact with other people before this time period ends.

If you have the NHS Covid 19 app, you should put all your symptoms in to it and follow the instructions it gives you to ensure that you fully recover and are no more at risk from the virus or infecting other people who you may come in to contact with in your every day life or when carrying out daily activities.

Gathering limits have been eased. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 30 people and indoor gatherings are limited to 6 people or 2 households (each household can include a support bubble, if eligible).

People are now encouraged to practice extreme caution when meeting friends and family. Where in the past, we were told that we should remain 2 metres away from everyone else at all times to avoid the virus spreading from person to person, we are now told we should only meet people when it is absolutely necessary. Hugging is now allowed but you shouldn't just go and hug anyone on the street, you should ensure you know them well and hug them in a safe way as to have as small a risk as possible of accidentally transferring the virus.

Indoor entertainment and attractions such as cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums and children’s indoor play areas are permitted to open with COVID-secure measures in place.

People can attend indoor and outdoor events, including live performances, sporting events and business events. Attendance at these events is capped according to venue type, and attendees should follow the COVID-secure measures set out by those venues.

Indoor hospitality venues such as restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes can reopen.

Organised outdoor events can restart again and take part for all. This is as there will be plenty of space for them to take part in and lots of fresh air which reduces the risk of contracting the virus when in a public place. This must be organised by a business, charity or public body and they must take reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of all those taking part.

 Indoor sport can take place for all. This includes gym classes. It must be organised by a business, charity or public body and the organiser must take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

All holiday accommodation can open, including hotels and B&Bs. This can be used by groups of up to 6 or 2 households (each household can include a support bubble, if eligible).

Funeral attendance is no longer be limited to 30 people, but will be determined by how many people the COVID-secure venue can safely accommodate with social distancing. Limits at weddings, wakes and other commemorative events have been increased to 30 people. Other significant life events, such as bar/bat mitzvahs and christenings, will also be able to take place with 30 people.

The rules for care home residents visiting out and receiving visitors have changed, allowing up to five named visitors (two at any one time), provided visitors test negative for COVID-19.

All higher education students are able to access in-person teaching.

Support groups and parent and child group gathering limits have been increased to 30 people (not including under 5s)

There is no longer a legal restriction or permitted reason required to travel internationally.

The public should ensure that they follow all the rules and regulations which have been set out to avoid the number of cases of the virus spiralling out of control. Guidance is also given on looking out for the signs of new variants which are spreading from different areas around the world. Currently there are cases of a new variant of the virus from India which is beginning to spread round the UK. There are quite a few cases in Bolton which we have to keep an eye on to see what happens. Thankfully it looks like existing vaccines work on this new variant so anyone who hasn't been vaccinated will be contacted to have it as soon as possible.