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Yesterday (22.2.21) Boris Johnson set out a “four-step plan” to release England from lockdown – please see below an announcement summary and key dates.
Step one – 8 March, will see schools reopening and two people allowed to meet outdoors ‘for a chat’. From 29 March, outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed. Outdoor sports, including football, golf and tennis, will be allowed to resume from 29 March as well.
Step two – shops, hairdressers and gyms reopen from 12 April in England. Also from 12 April, outdoor hospitality will resume, as well as zoos and theme parks.
Step three – 17 May, most social contact rules lifted, as well as limited mixing indoors.
The Prime Minister hopes that Step Four, from 21 June, would see the end of all legal limits on social contact.
Scotland, Wales and NI will set out their own approaches, and it is expected that Nicola Sturgeon will announce Scotland’s timeline later on today (23.2.21)
Analysis by Public Health shows that Covid vaccines have a significant impact on the risk of serious illness. In the fourth week after the first dose, hospitalisations were reduced by 85% and 94% for the Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said, “Everybody has to ‘play their part’ to meet the dates for England’s lockdown to be eased”.
We hope this news will provide some light at the end of the tunnel for our Kings Heath community. If you are still waiting to hear from Birmingham City regarding the latest National Lockdown Grants, please login to your Brum account here to check the status of your application.
See the graphic below for a more in-depth outline.
