Restrictions connected with Coronavirus are set to ease again as of Monday 17th May, with the latest changes for Wales set to be confirmed tomorrow.
But what is due to change and how will it affect your business? We’ve pulled together a quick list to refresh your memory.
Wales
Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, is expected to make an announcement tomorrow following a three week review period.
In this announcement, it is thought he will confirm the following:
- From Monday 17th, cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants will be allowed to open indoors.
- Businesses will have to provide table service and the rule of six is still in place.
- Indoor tourism accommodation will be able to re-open.
- Indoor attractions (such as cinemas, bowling alleys and theatres are likely to be told they can re-open also.
There’s yet to be an announcement regarding foreign travel, but details on this are likely to follow soon.
England
Earlier this week Boris Johnson confirmed that England is moving to the next stage of the lockdown roadmap from Monday.
This means some of the most high-risk sectors will be allowed to reopen, with Covid-secure guidance in place.
This will include the reopening of:
- Indoor hospitality (with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew). However, it will still be a requirement to order, eat and drink while.
- Outdoor theatres and cinemas.
- Museums, cinemas and children’s play areas.
- Accommodation.
- Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes.
- Large events such as conferences, theatre and concert performances and sports events.
- Weddings, receptions, funerals, and commemorative events, including wakes, can also go ahead with up to 30 attendees.
- Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted, but gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors will remain illegal.
- Indoors, people will be able to meet socially in a group of six, or with one other household.
International travel can resume in line with a list of green countries that have been issued by the Government. You can view the full rules regarding this here.
Scotland
Most of Scotland will move from Level 3 restrictions to Level Two from Monday in the latest easing of Covid restrictions.
The changes will mean that three households will be able to mix indoors and there are new rules for pubs, but there is concern about a serious outbreak in the northeast of the country.
At Level 2, you can meet socially in groups of up to:
- Four adults from two households in private homes (and stay overnight).
- Six adults from three households in an indoor public place.
- Eight adults from eight households outdoors.
Other rule changes in Scotland will also mean that:
- All hospitality venues will be allowed to open until 10.30 pm indoors.
- All organised sport and exercise activity can go ahead, except adult indoor contact sports.
- Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, music venues, comedy clubs, amusement arcades, and bingo halls can open (subject to capacity constraints).
- Outdoor and indoor events can resume, with a maximum capacity of 100 indoors, 500 in outdoor seated venues, and 250 in outdoor free-standing venues, subject to physical distancing capacity requirements.
- Universities and colleges can return to a more blended model of learning.
- Adult organised non-professional performance arts can resume outdoors.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is further behind other countries of the UK, with the majority of changes due to take place on May 24, rather than May 17.
The Northern Ireland Executive has given this as a provisional date when more restrictions might be lifted, including:
- Re-opening of indoor hospitality, including pubs and hotels.
- Resumption of indoor group exercise.
- Some indoor mixing of households in private accommodation.
- Re-opening of B&Bs and hotels.
- Restarting of wedding receptions and funeral wakes.
- Reopening of indoor visitor attractions (for instance, museums or skating rinks).
At the moment there are travel restrictions for anyone travelling to Northern Ireland. If you are staying more than 24 hours, you have to self isolate for 10 days.
There you have it, you’re up to date!