THE first steps to freedom from lockdown will prioritise reopening schools and reuniting families, Boris Johnson said last night.
In two weeks, on March 8, you will be able to meet one friend or family member in the park for a coffee or a picnic.
On the same date, all pupils will return to the classroom as part of the first of four steps towards getting the country back on its feet.
Unveiling his long-awaited roadmap today, the Prime Minister will announce that on March 29, outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed – enabling families and friend groups to meet properly for the first time in months.
That date will also see the reopening of tennis courts and golf courses and the return of grassroots football.
But in a blow to many families, they will not be allowed to take holidays over the Easter weekend. And shops, hairdressers and pubs are all likely to remain closed until mid-April at the earliest.
Business chiefs last night urged Mr Johnson to ‘be bold’. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said now was the time ‘to commit to reopening our pubs so that thousands of communities and businesses up and down the country can
Some people are on the (tug-o-war) pitch… they think it’s all over!
Off the leash: Owners take their dogs for a walk in Richmond Park, south-west London
Beauty Council chief executive Millie Kendall
added: ‘We appeal to the Prime Minister
to give us hope we will soon be back to business
as usual.’
Mr Johnson will say today that further
restrictions will be lifted in subsequent
weeks, as long as they meet a set of four
new tests designed to keep the pressure off
the NHS: that the vaccine deployment programme
continues successfully; evidence
shows the jabs are effective at reducing
hospital admissions and deaths; infection
rates do not risk a surge in hospital cases;
and no risky new variants emerge.
He said last night the four tests were currently
being met, allowing the first step to
go ahead from March 8. It came as:
Matt Hancock revealed that one in three
adults had received a Covid jab;
The Health Secretary said there was early
data showing the vaccine reduced transmission
of the disease;
Surge testing was introduced in Brentwood,
Essex, following the discovery of the
South African variant in the area;
Former Tory leader William Hague said he
could not see ‘much justification’ for keeping
restrictions in place once the over-50s
have been vaccinated by April;
Latest figures showed 215 Covid deaths
were recorded yesterday, down 16.6 per cent
week on week, while infections also dropped
by 10 per cent to 9,834 cases;
Mr Hancock suggested teachers would
not jump the vaccine queue because they
were not more likely to die of the disease.
The Prime Minister said he would bring
the country out of lockdown ‘cautiously’.
‘Our priority has always been getting children
back into school… and we will also be
prioritising ways for people to reunite with
loved ones safely,’ he said.
Mr Johnson’s roadmap was signed off by
senior ministers at a special Covid-S meeting
yesterday, and will be rubber-stamped
by the Cabinet this morning.
The Prime Minister will give a statement
to Parliament in the afternoon, and host a
televised press conference in the evening.
Mr Johnson’s roadmap has four steps,
with step one coming into force in two
parts: March 8 and three weeks later on
March 29. The first step focuses on education
and providing for a sensible increase in
social contact
outdoors.
From March 29, as school holidays begin,
more social contact will be permitted. Outdoor
gatherings of either six people (a
reintroduction of the rule of six) or two
households can take place.
Also from March 29, outdoor sports facilities
such as tennis or basketball courts will
reopen. Organised adult and children’s
sport can also return. This will allow grassroots
football for all ages to begin again.
Addressing MPs this afternoon, Mr Johnson
will set out the latest data on infection
rates, hospitalisations and deaths, as well
as data showing the vaccines’ efficacy. He
will say that due to the relatively uniform
Members of the public enjoy a walk, cycle or run in Hyde Park, central London
Parklife: All the people happily stroll along the Long Walk in Windsor, Berkshire
So much for social distancing! Crowds flock to parks and beauty spots as Britain basks in a balmy 60F temperatures on hottest day of the year so far – while infection rates drop again with Boris set to announce route out of lockdown tomorrow
A break in the rainfall that has saturated much of Britain this week provided the perfect opportunity for crowds of people to head outside to enjoy the hottest day of 2021 so far.
With Covid-19 infection rates having fallen by 10 per cent on last week, many headed outside for some lockdown relief and to make the most of a rare dry day.
Hoards of sunseekers were seen making the most of the break in the recent rain by taking strolls or enjoying a sit down away from their bubbles.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to outline his roadmap for steering the nation of of its third national lockdown, but many people took matters into their own hands early to bask in the rare sunshine.
Pictures from today saw many people meeting in large groups outside, some with people from outside of their own social bubbles, as Britain enjoyed a warmer day.
The warmest temperatures today were found in Weybourne, Norfolk, where the mercury nudged 60F making it the warmest day of 2021 so far.
A break in the rainfall that has saturated much of Britain this week provided the perfect opportunity for crowds of people to head outside to enjoy the hottest day of 2021 so far. Pictured: These people were spotted enjoying a tug of war on Hampstead Heath as conditions continue to improve
An ice cream truck sees a huge queue of customers waiting to buy a treat earlier today in Hampstead Heath as the country enjoyed its hottest day of 2021
With Covid-19 infection rates having fallen by 10 per cent on last week, many headed outside for some lockdown relief and to make the most of a rare dry day. Pictured: People enjoy a walk in Windsor, Berkshire earlier today
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to outline his roadmap for steering the nation of of its third national lockdown, but many people took matters into their own hands to bask in the rare sunshine. Pictured: People head out in large groups to make the most of a rare dry day in Richmond Park today
Pictures from today saw many people meeting in large groups outside, some with people from outside of their own social bubbles, as Britain enjoyed a warmer day. Pictured: Large groups of people out enjoying the rare sunshine in Hyde Park earlier today
Covid-19 infection rates have continued to drop with 9,834 more coronavirus cases announced – a fall of 10 per cent on last week – while the 215 new daily deaths brought Britain’s total up to 120,580
Large crowds gathered on Hampstead Heath (pictured) earlier today to exercise together as people pre-empted the Prime Minister’s roadmap for leaving the third national lockdown, expected tomorrow
Hoards of people were spotted out and about in tourist spots such as near Tower Bridge, London, today as they made the most of the hottest day of 2021 so as temperatures reached 60F in Norfolk
Just two weeks ago the same town froze in 0.8C temperatures, showing the upturn in the recent mild conditions.
Today in London dozens of people were spotted sitting and walking closely to others near Tower Bridge with little or no thought for the two-metre rule.
People also seemed to be ignoring the rules in Hyde Park where some stopped to have picnics together and others nonchalantly strolled by parked police cars.
The area near Tower Bridge was bristling with activity today with people breaking lockdown to go for strolls and sit out in the sunshine near the world famous tourist site
People sunning themselves outside did not seem to be considering Government lockdown rules as they chatted with friends near Tower Bridge today
In Hyde Park some were seen paying no attention to the police cars as they calmly went for a stroll out in the afternoon sunshine, despite there being no change in the lockdown guidelines
The warmer temperatures were just too tempting for some who could not resist heading out with dogs and pushchairs in the balmy winter conditions, following several days of rain
Plenty sat out in the greens of Hyde Park today but at least were seen to be careful to not venture too closely to other groups doing the same thing in the hottest day of 2021 so far- with hotter yet to come
And in Windsor people strolled together on the Long Walk near other groups
Current restrictions forbid meeting other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.
Any outdoor gatherings must be limited to between just two people from two households, yet crowds of sunseekers took to beaches and green spaces across the country today, just days ahead of Boris Johnson’s ‘roadmap’ to freedom announcement.
The warmer conditions were just too tempting for some people who could not wait to get outside after watching the rain fall for several weeks. The conditions are expected to get better during the week and peak at about 62F in the southeast
This group was spotted seemingly taking a martial arts lesson in the winter sunshine ahead of tomorrow’s rumoured plans for easing lockdown rules expected by the Prime Minister in the Houses of Parliament
Several people seemed to agree it was the perfect temperatures to be outside in the sunshine instead of being cooped up inside, following the Government’s Covid guidelines
Martin Bowles, operating meteorologist from the Met Office said we can look forward to more mild conditions this week, with the south east even set to bask in 62F.
He said: ‘It’s going to stay quite mild as we have a southerly flow.
‘Some places will still get more rain than others. But we can expect it to stay milder and dryer next weekend.’
It comes after several weeks of rainy weather across the country bringing flood misery to thousands.
The London skyline can be seen behind these people out for a stroll on Hampstead Heath earlier today
Sally Bloor and her sons Fin, five, and Sam, three, have fun cycling through a flooded road near Ely in Cambridgeshire
Near Trinity College, Cambridge, beautiful crocuses were seen blooming in the winter sunshine as cyclists stopped for a rest
Several people ventured out to enjoy the beautiful scenery in Cambridge and warmer temperatures, despite lockdown rules
The beautiful blooming crocuses looked a picture of colour in some scenes seen around Cambridge today
The Met Office says there will be further rain tonight through southwest England, parts of the Midlands, Wales and northern England.
Northern Ireland and Scotland can expect it to stay mostly dry.
But that could change on Tuesday when southwest Scotland and into the northwest of England, such as Cumbria, have a yellow rain warning.
Martin added: ‘We had quite a lot of rain three or four days ago which came quite out of the blue.
‘Some rivers will be quite close to overflowing as it is and some flood warnings will be put out.’
