Schools in England are welcoming students back into classrooms today and care homes will begin permitting one regular visitor indoors, as part of the first step towards easing the coronavirus lockdown.
Boris Johnson told The Telegraph although today marked “only a small relaxation of the rules”, the changes will bring “joy and relief” to families after months of “tough restrictions”.
Most primary schools will open for all pupils, but secondary schools are taking a more phased approach, with students taking regular Covid tests and wearing face masks in classrooms to reduce the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of care home residents in England will be able to receive regular indoor visits from a nominated loved one. Visitors will be tested beforehand, must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and will be allowed to hold hands, but not hug or kiss their loved ones.
Rules around meeting a person from another household outdoors will also be loosened this week, which means people can leave home to meet one other person for a coffee or picnic outside.
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