Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today unveil the new roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions which have been in place for months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the new proposed plans, national restrictions will apply instead of the tiered approach the country faced in the latter half of 2020.
Mr Johnson will lay out the plans for schools to re-open from March 8, and he will unveil the new rules around socialising.
For almost two months people have only been allowed to see one other person outside their household for exercise.
So what does the new roadmap mean for socialising with friends and family? Here is everything we know so far.
What is the new Rule of Six?
From March 29 the “Stay at home” message will be scrapped, allowing friends and families to meet, but only outdoors.
One of the proposed restrictions will be the “rule of six”, which will allow six people from up to six different households to meet outdoors.
However, if just two households come together, they are allowed to meet outside with no cap on their size.
This means families and friends will be able to meet in parks and gardens – but not indoors.
But it will mean people can meet outside to socialise – not just for exercise.
Outdoor sports facilities will also be able to reopen at this time, along with organised adult and children’s sports.
This is the proposed plan, but whether or not it can go ahead will depend on four tests which must all be met before the next steps can go ahead.
They are:
- That the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- That evidence shows jabs are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
- That infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which puts unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- That the Government’s assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern
The first date for the diary will be March 8, when schools will reopen.
At this point Brits can also meet one friend of family member in an outside space for a picnic or coffee.
Assuming the four tests are met, the next step will be March 29, when the rule of six will be re-introduced.
Mr Johnson is expected to say he hopes the Rule of six will be scrapped altogether by June, and that the UK will return to a sense of normalcy by July – but with social distancing still in place.
The Prime Minister will speak in the House of Commons at 3:30pm to outline the plan.
He will then make a televised address to the nation at 7pm.
