Boris Johnson is expected to delay lockdown by four weeks, to be announced in a press conference at 6pm today. Well, I don’t know about you, but this weekend sitting in the park and having visited pubs and restaurants over the past few weeks, it does feel like things are returning to normal, so what does a delayed easing of restrictions mean for you and me:
1. You will need to keep wearing that facemask – whenever in a public indoor space, in bars and restaurants unless you are seated for your meal or drinks, in supermarkets and shopping centres – unless of course you are exempt.
2. Indoor gatherings are restricted to six people and outdoor gathering to thirty people. This is unlikely to change if restrictions are delayed. Social distancing, however, is currently offered as guidance with you expected to take personal responsibility to ensure you stay 2 meters apart or 1 meter with extra precautions in place.
3. Cinemas, sporting events and pubs will most likely continue to have limited capacity, with you expected to book in advance for some venues.
4. Gyms will remain open but the changing rooms and sauna may not be. You will most likely have to book your gym session in advance to ensure capacity limits – check with your gym before you go.
5. Nightclubs will remain shut.
6. There is currently no cap on funerals as long as the venue can ensure safe Covid measures such as social distancing. However weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and other events may still be restricted to 30 or eased slightly – we will have to wait and see.
7. If you test negative for Covid, up to 2 visitors at anyone time can visit a care home resident (five named people in total are permitted to visit overall).
8. Holiday accommodation can be booked by up to 6 people from two households. This is unlikely to change. The traffic light system will remain in place for foreign travel.
9. There are some areas where people are expected to take extra precautions due to the rise in the Delta variant, including Greater Manchester and Kirklees.
10. You should continue to work from home where you can but students across schools, colleges and universities can now resume face to face teaching.
So, that’s about it – we wait with anticipation for the Government’s announcement this afternoon at 6pm, but don’t expect any major changes at this time.