The Prime Minister has announced a roadmap out of lockdown restrictions - which will see measures gradually eased in four steps over the next four months at least.
The first date on which some restrictions are going to be eased will be on Monday (March 8) when children of non-essential workers will return to school.
On March 29, people will be able to meet up in larger groups outdoors and April 12 'personal' care businesses will reopen - including hairdressing salons and barbers - and some hospitality.
Come May 17, indoor hospitality will be permitted to open and the Prime Minister hopes to have lifted most coronavirus lockdown measures by June 21.
But this easing is dependent on four key 'tests' t being met.
The tests are: the success of the vaccine roll-out, the effectiveness of the vaccines in bringing down deaths and hospitalisations, case numbers not rising and any variants which may bring new challenges.
There key dates you need to know about....
March 8
Step one part one
The first step of easing lockdown restrictions is split into two sections - with the priority being getting children back to school and reuniting families.
On March 8, every primary and secondary school will reopen, with the potential of some secondary and college students being staggered back to learning based on the outcome of mass testing.
All secondary and college students will be required to take a Covid test twice a week when they go back to school.
School sports will also return, both indoor and outdoor, and ‘wraparound’ childcare will be allowed to resume, which means after school clubs can take place.
March 8 will also see a change in care home rules.
Residents will be allowed to have a single visitor, who can visit repeated times.
If you’re visiting someone in a care home you must get a Covid-19 test beforehand and wear PPE.
You’ll also be allowed to leave home to meet a friend in a public place, such as a park.
This means you could have a coffee together or a picnic.
March 29
Step one part two
You'll be able to meet in larger groups again, but only outdoors - including in private gardens.
The rule of six will return meaning groups can meet, or a larger number as long as they all come from just two different households.
Outdoor sporting venues (such as tennis clubs) will be opened and people can take place in outdoor sports.
The stay at home order will end, but the advice will be to "stay local" rather than travelling long distances. And people will be asked to work from home when possible.
While people will still be encouraged to minimise travel, there will not be punishments for someone who drives a few hours for a meet-up outside, then returns that day.
April 12
Step two
Time to get a haircut, as personal care premises such as hairdressers, barbers and nail salons will re-open.
So will hospitality venues such as pubs or restaurants, but for outdoor customers only. So you can have a drink in a pub garden, but not go inside.
This time, there will be no rule that you must have a meal in order to buy a drink. And there will be no 10pm curfew. But you must be seated when you order anything.
Social mixing rules continue - you can only go to these outdoor venues in groups of six, or larger groups with just two households.
Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools will re-open.
Events such as weddings, wakes and funerals can be held with allowed with 15 people (up from 6 now).
May 17
Step three
Indoor hospitality will be allowed. So pubs and restaurants can have customers indoors.
Cinemas will re-open.
Most social contact rules will end outdoors. This means, for example, that you won't be limited to six people outdoors.
A maximum of 30 people will be allowed at any outdoor gathering, for example, in a park or garden.
Mixing of different households will allowed indoors again. If you and a relative live in separate households (and you aren't already in a 'bubble') then you'll be able to visit each other indoors for the first time.
Entertainment and sporting venues such as football clubs and concert halls will be allowed to re-open for the public, but with limits on the numbers of spectators allowed.
Indoors, the limit will be 1,000 people or the venue half full, whichever is lower. Outdoors in most venues the limit will be 4,000 people allowed or half full, whichever is lower.
In the biggest venues, like major football stadiums, the limit will be 10,000-spectators or when the venue is a quarter full - whatever comes first.
Up to 30 people will be allowed to attend weddings, receptions, wakes, funerals. Bar mitvahs and christenings will be allowed.
June 21
Step 4
The Government hopes to re-open everything that's left, including night clubs, by this date.
It hopes to end restrictions on live events and performances, and possibly to end all restrictions on weddings.
