The Covid Diaries – 296 22nd February
Boris Johnson has announced his roadmap out of lock down. The BBC has summarised stage one of the “roadmap” as follows (it is in two parts):
8 March
- All schools and colleges will reopen
- University students can return for practical courses. There will be a review by the end of the Easter holidays for all other students
- Face coverings are recommended in class for secondary school students and also for parents and staff in primary schools
- Wraparound childcare can also return for vulnerable pupils and where it is needed for parents or carers to go to work, support groups or to seek medical care
- Two people from different households can meet outside for recreation, which can include “a coffee on a bench”
- One nominated person can visit care homes, but will need PPE, a lateral flow test and to “keep physical contact to a minimum”
- Weddings attended by up to six people can take place in any circumstances
29 March
- People will be allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the “rule of six”, including in private gardens
- The stay at home rule will end but people should stay local as much as possible
- Outdoor sport facilities will reopen, including golf courses and tennis and basketball courts
- Formally organised outdoor sports can also restart
- Parents and children groups can return but are capped at 15 and must be outdoors. Indoor groups can take place for vulnerable children and where parents need the groups to go to work
Depending on various measures about the vaccine roll-out and spread of the virus, stage two will start no earlier than 12th April.