Cautious Road Map For Reopening

Empty EFL stadium On Monday, 22 February, 2021, the UK will have been subjected to 48 days nationwide restrictions but it is believed that the government announcement for the road map for reopening society will be staged and cautious not a set date for a return to normal.

Initially, it is expected to commence with the reopening of schools on Mar 8.

It is understood that ministers are discussing a proposal with primary schools returning first and secondary schools a week or two later. If England were to follow Scotland's plans, schools could be reopened fully to all pupils for face-to-face learning by early April.



Scottish schools have already been given their opening dates, again in a staged approach.

The possibility of outdoor sports such as golf and tennis could be opened with restrictions.

It is likely that the rule of only exercising within your own household or with one person from another household will remain, and that social distancing will still have to be adhered to.

Non-essential shops may also re-open in March, if not, early April at the latest.

The devolved governments appear to have been a fortnight ahead of Westminster in terms of lockdown timescales, with Wales also due to send some of its pupils back to school on Feb 22.

Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has indicated the possibility that the Welsh tourism industry could have a very limited business by Easter, however, said that there was no guarantees. but when it does open this would be in a very controlled manner. He added that obviously the Easter period is very important to Welsh tourist industry.

In May it is understood that the Westminster Government is looking to implement a ‘three stage’ plan, which could mean pubs and restaurants reopen but Information suggests that various scenarios have been considered, possibly only open to serve outdoors, however this would be a death knell for venues without outdoor space. The most likely outcome for pubs and restaurants at the moment appears to be allowing them to reopen but with strict mixing rules.

This could mean only two households can sit together indoors and the rule of six being reintroduced for those dining or drinking together outdoors.

A rule of six outdoors may also pave the way for outdoor amateur sports such as football, rugby, cricket and hockey to return, albeit with amended mixing rules.

In June it is anticipated that the rule of six could re-appear, but relate to indoor activity.

This would mean a group of friends or family might be able to dine or drink together indoors at a pub or a restaurant.

The relaxation of the measures could involve pubs and restaurants returning to how they were being operated in early November before the second national lockdown where table service only and masks to be worn when not at the table. It is unclear at this stage whether a "substantial meal" would be needed to order a pint, as was the case in September.

In July, the hospitality and ‘staycation’ sector may be given the go-ahead to reopen, albeit with social distancing in place although this area divides a lot of government representatives some being very cautious and others looking forward to ‘booking holidays abroad’.

There is definite uncertainty - especially surrounding new mutations of the virus which must mean any roadmap is subject to change.

Any roadmap will be subject to a rewrite if there is an increase in cases, deaths, hospitalisations, transmissions or new variants rise, which would plunge us back into lockdown.

While the vaccine rollout continues, it has been stressed that there is still not enough data about the impact of vaccines on reducing the spread of infection to pick reopening dates.

Any clear evidence that Covid vaccines were driving down death rates is apparently weeks away from being identified.

The Government has been urged by the health service to focus on "data, not just dates" when setting out his roadmap out of lockdown on Monday, 22 February as a fourth national lockdown must be avoided at all costs.