On Sunday 10 May at 7pm, Boris Johnson delivered a speech to the nation outlining a road map for how England’s lockdown restrictions would be eased in the coming weeks.

The announcement comes after Britons have spent almost two months being told to stay in their homes with very few exceptions, such as taking one form of daily exercise, shopping for essential items, and going to work as a key worker.

Such restrictions, which Mr Johnson described as “a kind that we have never seen before in peace or war”, have been in place since 23 March.

The prime minister was eager to stress how effective they have been in terms of reducing transmissions of Covid-19.

“It would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike,” he added.

But some restrictions in England will be eased as of Wednesday 13 May, such as people being permitted to take part in unlimited outdoor exercise and restart open-air sporting activities.

People in England will also be permitted to sunbathe in local parks with other members of their household.

Additionally, to reflect the easing of the lockdown, the government’s motto “Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives” has been replaced with: “Stay alert, control the virus, save lives”.

However, the devolved nations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have all rejected the UK government’s strategy to switch to the “stay alert” message.

Created with Sketch.

Created with Sketch.

Mr Johnson has stressed that the easing of restrictions in England come under the condition that transmission rate for coronavirus remains low.

“It depends on all of us – the entire country – to follow the advice, to observe social distancing, and to keep that R down,” he said in reference to the R rate, which is a key measure of how much Covid-19 is spreading.

The prime minister added that now is not the time to “simply end the lockdown”.

“Instead we are taking the first careful steps to modify our measures,” he said.

In order to fully ease the lockdown, Mr Johnson said five tests needed to be met, including making sure the NHS can cope and the death rate from Covid-19 remains low.

Here’s everything we know so far about what people can and cannot do in light of the new guidance Mr Johnson has issued.

Sunbathing

While previously Britons had been told not to sunbathe in public spaces, Mr Johnson has said that people in England will be able to do so as long as they continue to abide by social distancing guidelines and remain at least two metres apart from people outside of their households.

“You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.”

In Wales, however, the Welsh Government’s counsel general Mark Drakeford said this does not apply.

“Our regulations do not permit people to get in their cars and drive to destinations in Wales, and that includes people getting in their cars in England,” he said.

The new rules regarding sunbathing also do not apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Exercise and outdoor sport

The government is now encouraging people in England to take unlimited “amounts of outdoor exercise”. This is also true for those in Scotland, as Nicola Sturgeon has said the once-a-day-limit on exercise will be removed from Monday. Likewise in Wales, first minister Mark Drakeford has said that people can exercise more than once a day from Monday.

While Arlene Foster has not yet announced how the lockdown will be eased in Northern Ireland, it is expected that  the public will be advised to go out as much as they like for exercise.

People in England will also be able to take part in outdoor sports so long as it is with members of their household only and they maintain social distancing guidelines, the prime minister said.

A fine will be incurred for those who do not abide by these rules.

Previously, the government guidance stated that people should not exercise more than once a day.

Returning to work

As of Monday, anyone who can’t work from home in England, such as those in construction and manufacturing, will be actively encouraged to return to work.

The government is advising people to avoid taking public transport if at all possible, not just because services are currently limited, but because doing so will make it easier for you to maintain social distancing.

Mr Johnson added that those with cars will be encouraged to drive to work.

“So work from home if you can, but you should go to work if you can’t work from home,” the prime minister said.

“And to ensure you are safe at work we have been working to establish new guidance for employers to make workplaces Covid-secure.”

Schools

The reopening of schools depends on the number of new infections of Covid-19, but Mr Johnson said that he believes we may be in a position to get primary pupils in England back into school by 1 June “at the earliest”.

By that date, the prime minister said: “We believe we may be in a position to begin the phased reopening of shops and to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6.”

“Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays,” he added.

“And we will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops and on transport.”

However, Mr Drakeford has said that Welsh schools will not open in June.

Non-essential shops

People had expected the prime minister to announce that garden centres would reopen in England next week.

However, this was not mentioned in the speech.

Mr Johnson added that the government would “soon” release detailed guidance on how shops other non-essential shops would reopen.

In Wales, however, Mr Drakeford has said that garden centres will be able to open with social distancing guidelines, and local authorities can begin planning how to safely open libraries and recycling centres.

Pubs and restaurants

Mr Johnson did not clarify the rules regarding pubs and restaurants, which will unlikely reopen till much later in the year.

He did, however, say that by July, subject to further scientific advice, he will hope to reopen “some of the hospitality industry and other public places, provided they are safe and enforce social distancing”.

The prime minister added: “And if we can’t do it by those dates, and if the alert level won’t allow it, we will simply wait and go on until we have got it right.”

Visiting friends and family members

Mr Johnson did not reference this in his speech.

For now, it seems the rules regarding socialising with members outside of your household remain the same.

Read More