Boris Johnson announces pubs can reopen outdoors and two households mix inside in England from April as he unveils roadmap

Boris Johnson has announced pubs can reopen outdoors and households can mix inside in England from April as he unveiled his roadmap out of lockdown.

The Prime Minister on Monday revealed his four-stage approach to easing restrictions, starting with all schools returning

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Johnson explained the road map would “guide us cautiously, but irreversibly towards reclaiming our freedoms”.

He said: “The threat remains substantial with the numbers in hospital only now beginning to fall below the peak of the first wave in April.

Boris Johnson announces pubs can reopen outdoors and households mix inside from April as he unveiled his roadmap out of lockdown.

“But we are able to take these steps because of the resolve of the British people and the extraordinary success of our NHS in vaccinating more than 17.5 million people across the UK.

"So, as the modelling released by Sage today shows, we cannot escape the fact that lifting lockdown will result in more cases, more hospitalisations and sadly more deaths.

“And this would happen whenever lockdown is lifted – whether now or in six or nine months – because there will always be some vulnerable people who are not protected by the vaccines.

“There is therefore no credible route to a zero-Covid Britain, or indeed, a zero-Covid world and we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental wellbeing and the life chances of our children.”

The PM brandishes his road map outside Number 10.

The steps will have at least five weeks in-between each other to allow the UK Government and scientists to assess the data.

Mr Johnson warned rushing to unlock could see restrictions return.

He explained: “The chief medical officer is clear that moving any faster would mean acting before we know the impact of each step, which would increase the risk of us having to reverse course and reimpose restrictions. I won’t take that risk.

“Step one will happen from March 8, by which time those in the top four priority groups will be benefiting from the increasing protection they receive from their first dose of the vaccine.”

Under step one, all children will return to school on March 8, with wrap around childcare and after school sports clubs also allowed to return.

The same date will also see the public allowed to meet one other person on a recreational basis for activities such as a coffee or picnic, with it previously only allowed for exercise.

Care home residents will also be allowed one regular named visitor.

On March 29, the rule of six returns, with up to two households allowed to mix.

Meetings in private gardens will also return, as well outdoor organised sport such as tennis, football and golf.

The “stay at home” order will then lift and change to advice to stay local.

Mr Johnson said step two would begin “at least five weeks” after the first phase and no earlier than April 12, with an announcement at least seven days in advance.

He said: “If analysis of the latest data against the four tests requires a delay, then this and subsequent steps will also be delayed to maintain the five-week gap.”

The step would see the return of non-essential retail, personal care premises, nail salons libraries and museums.

Pubs will finally return, as part of the reopening of outdoor attractions such as zoos, hospitality, theme parks and outdoor swimming.

This will no longer have the requirement of the last relaxation to have food with alcohol, and curfews will also be scrapped.

Step three begins no earlier than April 17, and sees indoor mixing allowed, with gatherings allowed of up to 30 people.

Mr Johnson explained the third review would “consider the potential role of Covid status certification in helping venues to open safely”.

Up to two households could meet indoors at that point, and hotels, bed and breakfasts and indoor sport could reopen.

Pubs would go back to the rule of six indoors, but restrictions would be removed outside.

For larger venues such as football grounds, 1,000 people would be allowed or half full – whichever number is lower.

Step four begins no earlier than June 21, from which all of the legal limits on social contact could be removed.

The UK Government hopes to then reopen the sections of the economy closed throughout the pandemic such as nightclubs.

An international travel ban will remain in place until May 7 at earliest.

Mr Johnson explained: “In view of these cautious, but I hope irreversible changes, people may be concerned about what these changes mean for the various support packages for livelihoods, for people and the economy.

“So I want to reassure the House we will not pull the rug out. For the duration of the pandemic, the Government will continue to do whatever it takes to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK.”

Responding to the announcements, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the Prime Minister to resist any pressure from his own MPs to lift the restrictions more quickly, and urged him to stick to his word.

He said: “Last week, it was reported that around 60 of his own members of Parliament called for the end of all restrictions by the end of April.

"I hope the Prime Minister takes the opportunity to face this down because if this road map is to work, he needs to listen to the chief scientific officer and the chief medical officer.

“I’m glad the PM spoke today of caution, of this being irreversible, of assessing the data and following the evidence. Those are the right guiding principles and I have to say it’s a welcome change from some of the language the PM has used in the past and I urge the PM now to stick to that.”

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