PRIME minister Boris Johnson has announced his roadmap to ease coronavirus restrictions across England.
Addressing the nation, Mr Johnson detailed his four-stage plan to ease restrictions, which he described as “cautious but also irreversible”.
Before each new step, the Government will look at the Covid-related data to assess what impact the relaxing of measures has had so far.
The road map contains four tests for easing restrictions at each stage.
The government will assess the success of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, whether they are reducing hospital admissions and deaths, infection rates and the impact of any new coronavirus variants.
Such data will be used to determine whether the next stage of restrictions should be lifted.
Mr Johnson announced that on March 8, all schools would reopen to all pupils, and people can meet outdoors with one other person.
Then, on March 29, the rule of six returns and friends and family can meet outdoors either as two households or subject to the rule of six.
On April 12, non-essential shops can reopen, hairdressers and nail salons can reopen and pubs and restaurant can serve people outside, the prime minister confirmed.
Mr Johnson then said, on May 17, the hospitality sector will open indoors and subject to capacity limits, sports stadia can reopen.
He added: “On June 21 we will say goodbye to most restrictions. Lifting the limits on weddings and opening nightclubs.
“All of these steps will apply in England and the government will continue to do whatever it takes to protect jobs and livelihoods.
“I know there are some who would like to accelerate the timetable and of course there are others who would like to be more cautious and I understand both points of view.
“We must accept we have got to be humble in the face of nature, but also, we must accept we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that have separated family and loved ones for too long.
“It’s thanks to the rollout of these vaccinations that the balance of that judgement is now changing in our favour.
“There is light ahead, leading us to a spring and summer which I think will be seasons of hope looking and feeling incomparably better for us all and from which, we will not go back.”
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