How the UK is easing lock-down

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By Laura Kelly

1 June 2020

When Boris Johnson announced the changes to lock-down on May 10th, members of the devolved governments rushed online to remind citizens that the Prime Minister’s statement applies only to England.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland rejected the government’s new slogan ‘Stay Alert’ and stated that the ‘Stay Home’ slogan still applies.

Each government then released their own guidance plans for easing lock-down rules, but there is still confusion within the UK about when these changes will be introduced.

As each country is entering the first stage of easing restrictions, here is your guide to lock-down changes:

Northern Ireland:

Northern Ireland developed a five-step plan to ease lock-down restrictions, with details on how this will affect work, retail, education, travel, family and community, and sport, cultural and leisure activities.

Whilst English students are due to return to school on Monday, the Northern Irish Education Minister, Peter Weir, has stated that the first batch of pupils will not return until late August, tying in with the start of a new educational year.

With the R number between 0.7 and 0.8, the NI Executive began easing lock-down. However, since these plans were made three weeks ago, the R number has increased to 0.9. If it remains at this level, or below, then the following relaxations for Phase One will be introduced on 8 June.

Phase one:

• Family and community – Groups of up to six people who do not share a household can already meet outdoors whilst maintaining physical distancing. Churches open for private prayer and hold drive-through services. Marriage ceremonies are already permitted for the terminally ill, after June 8 outdoor weddings are permitted, but are limited to 10 people attending.
• Retail – Big outdoor-based retailers such as garden centres have reopened. From 8 June, large non-food retailers are set to reopen. This includes car showrooms, electrical shops and phone shops.
• Work – Encouragement to return to work if possible.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – NI residents can currently do the following activities that do not involve shared contact with hard surfaces; walking, running, cycle, some water activities, tennis and golf. From 8 June, outdoor sports courts will be permitted to open. Drive-through cinemas open.

Phase Two:

• Retail – Non-food retail can open where numbers limited and social distancing and other mitigating measures in place per risk assessment.
• Education – In addition, subject to risk assessment and adhering to maximum capacities, provision expanded to cover wider definition of key workers as workplaces activity gradually increases.
• Family and community – Groups of up to 10 can meet.
• Sports, culture and leisure activities – Resumption of, for example, team sports training on a non-contact basis in small groups. Selected libraries open, with restricted service. Open-air museums open.

Phase Three:

• Work – Phased return to office and onsite working, subject to risk assessment. Work that can be done from home should be done at home.
• Education – In addition, schools expand provision to accommodate a number of priority cohorts on a part-time basis with a blended learning approach involving a combination of in-school and remote teaching.
• Family and Community – Gatherings can accommodate up to 30 people while maintaining social distancing.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – Resumption of, for example, team sports training on a non-contact basis. Museums and galleries open. Libraries open. Concert and theater rehearsals resume.

Phase Four:

• Retail – Other ‘contact’ retail (hairdressers, fitness trainers, tattoo/piercings) can open, subject to mitigations following risk assessment.
• Education – In addition, schools expand provisions to accommodate all pupils on a part time basis with a blended learning approach involving a combination of in-school and remote learning.
• Transport – Public transport continues to operate, but subject to ongoing risk assessment. Demand on peak services, particularly within urban areas likely to increase. Reducing and staggering demand through continued home-working and staggered start times for businesses would assist as social distancing requirements in place. People to be encouraged to walk and cycle for short journeys were possible.
• Family and community – A wider range of gathering permitted including church services subject to social distancing and other suitable mitigations, such as cleaning of hard surfaces.
• Sports, culture and leisure activities – Resumption of, for example, competitive sport ‘behind closed doors’ or with limitations on the number of spectators. Leisure centres and other indoor leisure facilities open. Outdoor concerts on a restricted basis.

Phase Five:

• Work – All able to return to work subject to mitigations. Remote working still strongly encouraged and maintained where possible.
• Retail – Hospitality retail (restaurants, cafes and pubs) can open subject to risk assessment, on a limited basis to start with.
• Education – In addition, subject to medical and scientific advice, expand early year school provision to full-time basis.
• Transport – Public transport operating a full service but subject to ongoing risk assessment. Message about walking and cycling continues to be reinforced.
• Sports, culture and leisure activities – Resumption of close physical contact sports. Return to competitive sport and full use of sporting facilities. Spectators to attend live events on restricted basis. Nightclubs, concerts open on a limited basis.

Scotland

Whilst Scotland also has a five-step plan in easing lock-down restrictions, the government included lock-down in this plan. This article only contains the four phases out of lock-down, as the government is entering phase one.

The rest of the UK has advised that it is okay to enter someone else’s house if you are just walking through it to enter the back garden or to use their bathroom, as long as you wash your hands and wipe down surfaces afterwards. However, Nicola Sturgeon stated that if the distance from your own home is so far that you would have to use someone else’s bathroom, then perhaps you shouldn’t be doing it.

Phase One:

• Work – Remote working default, For workplaces that are reopening, employers should encourage staggered started times and flexible working. Outdoor workplaces to resume with physical distancing.
• Family and community – From May 29, one household can meet with another (maximum eight people) , whilst maintaining social distancing. Public outdoor spaces can now be used for recreational purposes, e.g. sit in the park, sunbathe or have a picnic. However, if having a picnic each household should bring their own food separately and avoid sharing utensils.
• Transport – Permitted to travel short distance of local community, by walking and cycling. The advised distance you can travel is five miles from your home.
• Education – Whilst staff can return to schools from 1 June, this is to make preparations for the start of the new school year in August. Child minding services and fully outdoor nursery provision will be available, although with limited capacity.
• Retail – Drive-through food outlets and garden centres have reopened.with physical distancing. Food outlets, restaurants and cafes are able to reopen but only with delivery and take-away options.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – From May 29, Unrestricted outdoors exercise adhering to distancing measures and non-contact outdoor activities in the local area – such as golf, hiking, canoeing, outdoor swimming, angling – consistent with the wider rules and guidance applicable to any activity in this phase.
• Healthcare – Begin the safe restart of NHS services, covering primary, and community services including mental health. Introduction of the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland service in community pharmacies and increased care offered at emergency dental hubs as practices prepare to open. There will also be a resumption of IVF treatment following the approval of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The introduction of designated visitors to care homes will be considered.

Phase Two:

• Family and community – You would be able to meet outside with larger groups including family and friends with physical distancing. You would also be able to meet people from another household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures. Registration offices to open for high priority tasks. Places of worship would be open for private prayer with physical distancing and hygiene safeguards. Marriages, civil partnerships and other types of ceremonies can take place with a limited number of attendees.
• Transport – Operating increased services but capacity would still be significantly limited to allow for physical distancing.
• Education – Campus university lab research to restart subject to physical distancing.
• Work – Remote working remains the default. Non-essential, indoor non-office-based workplaces can resume, once relevant guidance has been agreed – including factories and warehouses, lab and research facilities. Plans for the construction sector to implement remaining stages of phased return.
• Retail – Previously closed small retail units, and outdoor markets to be re-opened with physical distancing in place. Pubs and restaurants can open outdoor spaces with physical distancing and increase hygiene routines.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – Playgrounds and sports courts to reopen, along with a resumption of professional sport in line with public health advice.
• Healthcare – Remobilisation plans will be implemented by Health Boards and Integrated Joint Boards to increase the provision for the backlog of demand, urgent referrals and the triage of routine services. Some chronic disease management services, which could include pain and diabetic services will be reintroduced.

Phase Three:

• Family and community – You will be able to meet with people from more than one household indoors with maintaining physical distancing and hygiene measures. Relaxation of restrictions on funeral attendance, marriages, civil partnership and other services to beyond close family. Places of worship can open to extended groups. Further resumption of justice system processes and services.
• Transport – You can drive beyond your local area for leisure and exercise purposes. Public transport will be operating full services but capacity will be still be significantly limited to allow for physical distancing. Travel at peak times will be discouraged as far as possible.
• Education -Children to return to school under a blended model of part-time in-school teaching and part-time in-home learning. Schools expected to open on August 11, subject to the evidence and progress of the epidemic. All childcare providers to open, subject to public health measures, with available capacity prioritised to support key worker childcare, early learning and childcare (ELC) entitlement and children in need. Phased return for universities and colleges with a blended model of remote learning and limited on campus learning where prioritised.
• Work – Remote working remains default. Indoor office workplaces including contact centres can reopen, once relevant guidance has been agreed and with physical distancing.
• Retail – Pubs and restaurants can open indoor spaces with physical distancing and increased hygiene routines. Personal retail services including hairdressers can open.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – Museums, galleries, cinemas and libraries can open, subject to physical distancing and hygiene measures. Gyms also to reopen. Relaxation of restrictions on accommodation providers (including hotels, B&Bs and holiday homes). Live events permitted with restricted numbers and physical distancing restrictions.
• Healthcare – Expansion of screening services and adult flu vaccinations in care homes and at home. All dental practices will begin to see registered patients. There will be a phased resumption of visiting to care homes by family members in a managed way.

Phase Four:

• Family and community – Further relaxation on restrictions on gatherings and continued importance of hygiene and public health will be emphasized.
• Education – Colleges and universities to be fully open – including key student services – with any necessary precautions.
• Work – Remote and flexible working remains encouraged. All types of workplaces would be open in line with public health advice.

Wales:

Wales has introduced a traffic light system to guide lock-down changes. It is changing the ‘Stay Home’ slogan to ‘Stay local to keep Wales safe.’

It has currently introduced the changes for family and community, transport and sports under the red phase. The rest will be considered in three weeks as the government reviews lock-down.

Red:

• Education – Closed except to key workers and vulnerable children. Able to manage increase in demand from children already eligible to attend schools and childcare.
• Family and community – From 1 June, members of two separate households in the same local area will be able to meet outdoors. Weddings and civil partnerships can take place if the bride or groom is terminally ill.
• Transport – Citizens still advised to stay within five miles from their home. From 1 June, travel to exercise is permitted, but only to local spots. Travelling to a park or beach outside your local area is still illegal.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – Exercising more than once a day and incidental activity locally is permitted from 1 June. Outdoor sports courts to open. Elite athletes resume some activity. Some opening of outdoor cultural and other sites. Relaxation and leisure outdoors where local.
• Work – More outdoor work and click-and-collect retail. Businesses not required to close (e.g. construction) reopening under safe working practices.
• Retail – Include click-and-collect retail for non-essential retail. Begin adaptations to public realm (e.g. town centres).

Amber:

• Education – Priority groups of pupils to return to school in a phased approach. Increased numbers of children in childcare.
• Family and community – Taking exercise with one other person or a small group whilst maintaining appropriate social distancing. Weddings and other events can take place with limited capacity and physical distancing. Limited services and size of congregations linked to ability to ensure physical distancing.
• Transport – Travel for leisure, access non-essential retail and services, and more people travelling for work.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – Team and individual sports, non-contact sport and games in small groups indoors and outdoors. Some outdoor events with limited capacity and events behind closed doors for broadcast. More cultural and leisure sites to reopen (e.g. museums and galleries).
• Work – Non-essential retail to reopen with physical distancing. Trial some personal services under appointment (e.g. hairdressers). Accommodation businesses open under protocols.
• Retail – Can access most non-essential retail where adaptations are possible to maintain physical distancing. Town centres and high streets adapted to facilitate shopping and accessing services under physical distancing.
• Healthcare – Continue to increase the availability of public services. Increase access to non-essential health and care services (e.g. elective surgery, dentistry).

Green:

• Education – All children and students able to access education. All children able to access childcare.
• Family and community – Meeting one other person or small group to socialise whilst maintaining appropriate social distancing. All places open with full range of services, alongside physical distancing.
• Transport – Unrestricted travel subject to ongoing precautions.
• Sport, culture and leisure activities – All sports, leisure and cultural activities open, with physical distancing. All events resume with limited capacity.
• Work – Restaurants, pubs and customers contact industries under physical distancing. All businesses and workplaces open under new protocols.
• Retail – Able to access all retail and leisure facilities whilst taking reasonable precautions.
• Healthcare – Access to all normal public, health and social care services under physical distancing where possible or precautions in other settings.

England:

The government has a three-step plan to easing lock-down. It has already introduced new rules, such as reopening gardening centres and will be making further changes to enter step one this week.

Step One:

• Work – Workers should continues to work from home rather than their normal physical workplace, wherever possible.
• Education – Primary schools and nurseries set to reopen on June 1. Some year 10 and 12 students will be able to return to secondary schools from June 15.
• Transport – When travelling, everybody should continue to avoid public transport wherever possible. People should choose to cycle, walk or drive, to minimise the number of people with whom they come into close contact.
• Families and communities – From 1 June, up to six people can meet outdoors as long as social distancing is applied. The six people can be from different households. People may drive to outdoor open spaces irrespective of distance, so long as they respect social distancing guidance.
• Sports, culture and leisure activities – People may exercise outside as many times each day as they wish. This includes angling and tennis. You can only exercise with up to one person from outside your household.
• Retail – From June 15, all non-essential premises will be allowed to reopen, including high street stores such as clothes and shoe shops.

Step Two:

• Sports, culture and leisure activities – Permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors for broadcast, whilst avoiding the risk of large-scale contract.
• Transport – Re-opening more local public transport in urban areas, subject to strict measures to limit as far as possible the risk of infection in these normally crowded spaces.
• Family and community – The government is examining how to enable people to gather in slightly larger groups to better facilitate small weddings.

Step Three:

• Retail – Open at least some of the remaining businesses and premises that have required to close, including personal care (such as hairdressers and beauty salons) and hospitality (such as food service providers, pubs and accommodation).
• Family and community – Places of worship to reopen.
• Sports, culture and leisure activities – Leisure facilities, such as cinemas can reopen. Some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to re-open safely at this point, or may be able to open safely only in part.

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