Boris Johnson has revealed his plan to unlock the country and start returning life to normal, but with no tier system in place this time around it means the Isle of Wight will not benefit from lesser restrictions compared to the mainland.
Previously, the Island was under Tier 1 restrictions which meant life was almost normal for 140,000 Islanders. However, the Prime Minister has this afternoon (Monday) laid out a national approach to easing the lockdown restrictions which have been in force since 5th January. For the Isle of Wight, restrictions ramped up from Tier 1 to Tier 4 very quickly at Christmas.
The hard-hitting ‘stay at home’ order is being scrapped next month with children returning to school on 8th March and later in the month, the Rule of 6 will make a return. This means for the first time since Christmas families and friends will be able to legally meet. However, Boris’ 4-step plan means restrictions will still be in place as we go into June but there are hopes of normality from July onwards when all UK adults will have been offered a vaccine.
2-metre social distancing and the Rule of 6 are expected to remain in place throughout the Summer, which could spell disaster for many of the Island’s events. However, there is some positive news… Islanders will be able to mix indoors with different households from 17th May, which is much sooner than thought.
Key dates you need to know
• 8th March – Schools to return – all children but secondary school children to wear face masks in classrooms
• 8th March – 2 adults can socialise outdoors in a public place, not just for exercise
• 29th March – Rule of 6 reintroduced with ability to meet in gardens (no restriction of numbers if 2 households)
• 29th March – Restrictions on local travel lifted meaning day trips can resume but accommodation to remain closed
• 29th March – Outside sports such as tennis and golf to make a return alongside organised sport such as football
• 12th April – Non-essential retail to re-open, such as hairdressers and beauty salons plus outdoor areas in hospitality venues
• 12th April – Pubs to re-open but only allowed to serve outdoors in beer gardens etc.
• 12th April – Libraries, museums, zoos and theme parks allowed to re-open
• 12th April – Self-contained accommodation such as Airbnb’s allowed to reopen (same household only)
• 12th April – Funerals permitted with up to 30 people, wakes of 15 and weddings of 15 people
• 17th May – All pubs, restaurants, hotels, B&Bs allowed to re-open
• 17th May – Different households can mix indoors according to the Rule of 6
• 17th May – Cinemas to re-open plus other indoor entertainment such as children’s play areas, exercise classes
• 17th May – Sports stadiums re-open at 25% capacity, indoor arenas to open at 50% capacity (or 1,000 people)
• 17th May – Most social contact restrictions outdoors removed but no groups of more than 30
• 17th May – Weddings, funerals, wake and wedding receptions for up to 30 people permitted
• 17th May – Foreign holidays banned – no international travel before this date
• 21st June – All legal limits on social contact removed
• 21st June – Music festivals and other large events be permitted, possibly with mass testing (provisional)
• 21st June – Everything re-opens including nightclubs but weddings may still be limited
However, the roadmap out of lockdown is conditional on COVID cases, hospitalisations and deaths all falling and the number of vaccinations going up. The Government’s ace card is the ability to stop lifting lockdown if a new variant is discovered, meaning millions of people are once again left in limbo as to whether life will actually return to normal in 2021.
Top scientists have said today that some restrictions may be required into 2022, which could include social distancing. However, the Government hopes to review the 1m+ social distancing rule, mandatory face coverings rule and the work from home encouragement by 21st June.
If everything goes according to plan, non-essential retail businesses and pubs will be given final confirmation of re-opening around 5th April, to give preparation time for opening the doors around 12th April.
Boris Johnson will address the nation on television at 19:00 this evening. During this address, he will confirm the above dates and issue a call to the country to keep following the rules, despite the improving picture.
Ahead of that national briefing, Boris Johnson has said:
“Our priority has always been getting children back into school which we know is crucial for their education as well as their mental and physical wellbeing, and we will also be prioritising ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely.
“Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step, and we will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe.”
So from April 12th we can go into a gym, but we have to wait until 17th May to get in a pub or restaurant. Ridiculous.
Yes you can keep fit and exercise in a gym
but oh no you can’t go to the pub how will people survive
You can keep fit and exercise without going to a gym. In a gym, people will be breathing heavily and sweating all over the place, uncontrolled – an ideal environment to pick up germs. In a pub or restaurant, you will strictly socially distance and wear a mask other than when seated 2 metres from anyone else.
What and drunk people are the most sensible people going are they? People coming over from the mainland and going into pubs whilst we were in tier 1 just before christmas was a contributing factor into the very high rise in cases over here in the first place.
I did not instigate the stupid tier system. That was another government cock up. Personally, I can go to pubs and restaurants without getting Brahms and Liszt. If the distancing rules are observed and enforced, they are safe places to visit, more than a gym could ever be.
I was a member of a gym before it all went back to lockdown and will be going back as soon as I can. Entry numbers were limited to the amount that the available space was able to cope with, there was plenty of room, time slots were booked in advance and controlled by the staff and the whole area was cleared for 15 minutes at the end of the session for all equipment to be cleaned and disinfected. Don’t make comments about things you have not experienced.
I’m sure you can wait a bit it won’t hurt back to mayhem soon
Blimey what pub do you drink in
No laughing, no shouting or singing out loud, no smokers going outside then coming back in, touching door handles then coughing everywhere. Nobody drunk and not washing their hands after the 10th trip to the loo, no queues to the toilet while people are shouting ” hurry up” while stood less than a foot away from the next person.
Everyone social distancing and not banging into you drunk or trying to start a fight.
You’ve got it so lucky in your local LP not to have anybody move from their seat unless they put their hand up to go to the toilet one by one.
Sounds like your talking about La Babalu nightclub Ryde! Somebody puked on my coat there in 1976 – it wasn’t you, was it.?
Awww bless you, I hope your keeping warm and safe inside.
We must look after the elderly and don’t worry you can start up bowls again at the end of March.
remember that and no it wasn’t me!
Been so nice walking the dog at night with the pubs closed.
Completely agree, been nice and quiet friday and saturday nights especially.
Yea you should wait till 17th June. not all over each other in the gym.
Sounds like you’ve got it bad LP.
Maybe booking yourself into AA might be a good idea.
it doesn’t make sense
Yes people that are breathless and not feeling very well don’t really go to the gym ……… Might go to the pub though
Problem for John Giddings..
Hopefully.! We don’t want his festival.
Not really, just move it to another date. It will be you wait and see.
Removing restrictions based on some speculated arbitrary date in the future is stupid. Relaxations should only come when certain milestones are met, ie reduction is occupied beds, reduction in positive tests to XX level etc etc etc.
You missed out – when common sense prevails.
The saddest part of this whole sorry episode is the ease with which the British public capitulated to Authoritarianism, even when they knew it made no sense. And that they continue to do so now, even though it makes even less sense than it did before.
Actually the saddest part is that virtually every post on this site contains comments from people who moan, groan ,winge , squark about the spread of the virus and how because of visitors / and anyone who ventures outside are to blame . They are sceptical about taking the vaccine as not enough testing has taken place . Now these same readers who are now shouting about that their hair is too long or that they cant have a pint ……..
A thumbs up from Fred.
Bit of light at the end of the tunnel! Let’s hope it all goes to plan and maybe just maybe we can all enjoy a good summer!!
That is something we can agree on!
Thank GOD for festival not going ahead we really don’t want to start all over again with so many people rubbing shoulders , certainly not till next year
Best thing about Lockdown, no F’ing Festival
So D.T and I don’t mean me, can approach schools rather than just serious accidents before family are informed?
Take the jab FFS. At least I use my real name u scaremongers
They are having a laugh if they think they can do the passport vaccine thing. It won’t happen because too many people are awake to this scamdemic.
Will someone explain who is going to gain from this “scam”. Of course, Bill Gates will be crowned King Of The World, and open the door for all the aliens to come in and control us all using the micro chips that are now planted in our arms. Or maybe not.
Scandemic? Explain yourself.
The only roadmap Boris and the government are going is straight to hell. Makes you wish Guy Fawkes succeeded.
Care to explain your fantastical theory?
Think Boris has done his best better than labour would do I’m not a conservative I think no one could do much better support has been there financially and people still take the piss