Education

Lockdown easing in England: what will change from 17 May


Lockdown restrictions will be eased further from 17 May in England. Here is a roundup of what will be allowed.

Socialising with family and friends

People will be able to meet indoors in groups of up to six or as two households, or outdoors in groups of up to 30 people.

People can also choose whether to socially distance with close family and friends, meaning that they can sit close together and hug. However, the government is urging people to remain cautious about the risks and to be conscious that some people are more vulnerable than others.

In wider society, including adult social care and medical settings, shops, bars, restaurants and other businesses, people will be expected to continue to socially distance.

In care homes, residents will be able to have up to five named visitors and be entitled to make low risk visits out of the home.

Thirty people will be able to attend a support group or parent and child group, with children under five exempt from the limit.

Hospitality

From Monday, people can meet in private homes, or in pubs, bars and restaurants, which will all be able to reopen indoors.

Weddings, receptions and other life events can take place with up to 30 people. The cap on numbers attending funerals will depend on the size of the venue.

Entertainment and sport

Most forms of indoor entertainment where social distancing is possible will also be able to resume, including cinemas, museums and children’s play areas. Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadia will have capacity limits in place.

Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors and saunas and steam rooms will reopen.

Travel

Hotels, hostels and B&Bs in the UK will allow overnight stays in groups of up to six people or two households.

People will also be able to travel to a small number of countries on the green list and will not have to quarantine on return. These are Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands, Israel, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira. Some of these countries have their own restrictions which UK travellers will be expected to observe.

Schools and universities

Pupils will no longer be expected to wear face coverings in classrooms or in communal areas in secondary schools and colleges as a result of decreasing infection rates. Twice weekly home testing will remain in place.

All remaining university students who are not studying on practical courses will be eligible to return to their term-time accommodation and to receive in-person teaching on campus. They should get tested twice a week upon their return.



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