England, Wales and most of Scotland finally eases lockdown rules

 Friday, May 21, 2021 

England, Wales and most of Scotland has finally eased lockdown rules but UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has mentioned that people must continue to play their part in curbing coronavirus. He said that the country has reached another milestone in its road map out of lockdown and should take the step with a heavy dose of caution. Millions of people are now allowed to socialise indoors in limited numbers, hug loved ones and visit indoor pubs and restaurants. The ban on foreign travel has also been lifted and replaced with new rules.

According to the new rules in England, people can now meet indoors in groups of up to six or two households, or in groups of up to 30 outdoors. Allowance has also been provided to overnight stays. Pubs, bars and restaurants will be serve customers indoors and hotels have been allowed to reopen. Museums, cinemas, children’s play areas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadiums are all allowed reopen again. Social distancing guidance is also undergoing a change and contact with other households like hugs has been declared as a matter of personal choice.

In Wales, pubs and restaurants are allowed to reopen indoors and customers can meet in groups of up to six from six households. All holiday accommodations are allowed reopen and so are cinemas, bowling alleys, museums, galleries and theatres. However, no changes have been made to indoor socialising and it is still restricted to extended households where two households can mix with each other and have physical contact.

Meanwhile in Scotland except for Glasgow and Moray, people are allowed to meet indoors in groups of six from up to three households. Outdoor gatherings are allowed where up to eight people from eight households can mix together. Pubs and restaurants are now allowed to serve alcohol indoors until 11:30 PM. Entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres and bingo halls are also allowed to reopen and up to 100 people are allowed at indoor events.

Foreign travel has been opened in all three countries. Prime Minister Johnson has also mentioned that everyone should play their part by getting tested twice a week, and getting vaccined when called, and remember hands, face, space and fresh air. Any individual in England and Scotland will be allowed to order free lateral flow tests which give results in 30 minutes even if they do not have symptoms. In Wales and Northern Ireland, such tests are only available for people who cannot work from home. Northern Ireland has also decided to review lockdown rules on May 20 and hope that some restrictions could be lifted on May 24.

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