Boris Johnson today unveiled a new roadmap towards greater normality from coronavirus including less social distancing in the autumn, a return of live theatres next month and spectators at some sporting events this summer.
Wedding banquets for up to 30 sitting people will be allowed from August and the one-metre-plus rule of social distancing could be relaxed in November if Covid-19 cases fall further.
The Prime Minister sought to revive the city-centre economies with the scrapping of the “work from home if you can” official guidance from August 1. He said employers would have more latitude to call staff into the office - but this was attacked as “reckless” by critics.
At the same time he unveiled the toughest measures yet to enforce local lockdowns if there are Leicester-style outbreaks – including powers to shut transport systems and effectively seal off areas.
Here we look at the key measures unveiled by the Prime Minister on Friday.
Theatre
Indoor performances with socially distanced audiences will be able to take place across the country from August 1. Audiences subject to social distancing will be able to watch drama, music and performance.
Sport
World Snooker Championships, the Glorious Goodwood horse racing festival and two men’s county cricket friendly matches will be among summer events used to stress-test plan to allow fans to return from 1 October with social distancing restrictions in place. They include Surrey v Middlesex at The Oval on 26-27 July.
Stadiums will also be allowed to welcome fans again as of October.
Weddings and leisure facilities
From next month, wedding receptions for up to 30 people can resume, and bowling, skating rinks, casinos and beauticians can reopen as long as they have measures in place to reduce Covid-19 transmission.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the relaxation will "enable wedding receptions to have sit down meals for no more than 30 people.”
Downing Street also said they are looking at whether they could bring other life cycle events such as bar mitzvahs, christenings under the same rules as weddings.
Work
From August, employers will be able to discuss with staff proposals for them to return to offices and workplaces that have been made safe against Covid-19.
The Government is asking employers to behave in a socially responsible manner and listen to the concerns of staff who have problems accessing public transport, have special health worries, or are constrained by looking after children.
The guidance will give employers more discretion to decide whether employees should come into work or stay at home. “We are not prescribing what businesses should do,” said a government source.
Shifting position on working from home puts Mr Johnson at odds with his chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, who earlier said there is "absolutely no reason" to change the advice.
A spokesperson told reporters after Mr Johnson's speech that both Sir Patrick and chief medical officer Chris Whitty were closely involved in creating the new rules.
The spokesperson said: "The road map was agreed by the CS [coronavirus strategy] committee, of which they are both contributors, and they also took part in the Cabinet discussion this morning.
“I think the PM said they provide advice and they have been contributing to this process but ultimately the decision is for ministers to take."
Lockdowns
Special powers to seal off areas with outbreaks will come in from tomorrow. They could include, if warranted, local “stay at home” orders to bar people from entering or leaving defined areas; shutting down or restricting transport systems; measures to cancel events or close businesses and venues; limiting gatherings.
Mr Johnson said he hoped life would return to something more like “normality” from November.
"It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November, at the earliest, possibly in time for Christmas," he said.
He indicated that social distancing measures could be relaxed between those who know each other well. "Throughout this period, we will look to allow more close contact between friends and family, where we can," he said.
Mr Johnson also scrapped from today the advice to avoid public transport in England. Nightclubs and soft play areas, however, will have to remain closed.
Choreographer Matthew Bourne questioned why the Government had announced the August 1 opening for theatres when performances would not be viable under social distancing measures. He tweeted: "Why make these announcements when they know that the vast majority of theatre, dance and music is not financially viable under "Covid secure" conditions?"
Lib Dem acting leader Sir Ed Davey said the back to work were “utterly reckless”. He said: “While we all want life to get back to normal as soon as possible, people remain rightly worried about coronavirus. The Prime Minister’s plan to change current guidance for working at home and public transport use is utterly reckless and flies in the face of experts, including the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser.”
Businessman John Longworth, Chairman of the Foundation for Independence, said: "Four months on from the introduction of the Government’s draconian curbs to our civil liberties, Britain is finally being allowed to get back to work.
"Throughout this public health crisis, the Government has given undue weight to the immediate impact of the public health crisis with little thought or consideration paid to the longer-term implications of the measures it has introduced to combat it.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also hit out at the Government in the wake of the announcement, slamming ministers for being "too slow" to work with local authorities.
He said: “I haven’t got any confidence that we could have a geographical lockdown in London. We probably could lock down a building, if it’s a factory or a place of worship or a school.
“That’s why it’s really important at long last that the Government provides us with the power, resources, clarity and information, should there be a need, heaven forbid, for a local lockdown in London."
Testing
The PM stressed that all of these changes depended on continued progress in tackling the virus and would remain under review.
He said that the UK would have capacity for 500,000 coronavirus tests per day by October and pledged a further £3 billion in funding to NHS England to help manage the extra strain expected over winter.
Announcing the extra cash, Mr Johnson said the nation must be "hoping for the best but planning for the worst".
