Everyone’s actions have helped to reduce the transmission of coronavirus in our communities. As the UK moves to the next phase in our fight against coronavirus, the most important thing we can do is to stay alert, control the virus, and in doing so, save lives.
As part of this plan:
People and employers should stay safe in public spaces and workplaces by following “Covid-19 secure” guidelines. This should enable more people to go back to work, where they cannot work from home, and encourage more vulnerable children and the children of critical workers to go to school or childcare as already permitted
You should stay safe when you leave home: washing your hands regularly, maintaining social distancing, and ensuring you do not gather in groups of more than two, except with members of your household or for other specific exceptions set out in law
You must continue to stay home except for a limited set of reasons but – in line with scientific advice – can take part in more outdoor activities from Wednesday 13 May
Things you can do on Wednesday that you cannot do now:
Spend time outdoors – for example sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing
Meet one other person from a different household outdoors – following social distancing guidelines
Exercise outdoors as often as you wish – following social distancing guidelines
Use outdoor sports courts or facilities, such as a tennis or basketball court, or golf course – with members of your household, or one other person while staying 2 metres apart
Go to a garden centre
For the time being, certain businesses and venues are required by law to stay closed to the public. These include:
Restaurants and cafes, other than for takeaway
Pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs
Clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets (not selling food)
Libraries, community centres, and youth centres
Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, gyms, arcades and soft play facilities
Some communal places within parks, such as playgrounds and outdoor gyms
Places of worship (except for funerals)
Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use, excluding use by those who live in them permanently, those who are unable to return home and critical workers where they need to for work
Boris Johnson yesterday confirmed that Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 are the government’s priority. The Prime Minister said: “In step two, at the earliest by 1 June, after half term, 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.” The government’s document released today said all primary school children will “return to school before the summer for a month if feasible”.
Regarding secondary schools, Johnson also said: “Our ambition is that secondary pupils facing exams next year will get at least some time with their teachers before the holidays. We will shortly be setting out detailed guidance on how to make it work in schools and shops, and on transport.”
