UK lockdown eases: what you can do from Monday

New rules in place for schools, colleges and universities, outdoor socialising and care homes

From Monday, lockdown rules will be relaxed so that pupils can return to the classroom for the first time since Christmas.

Groups of two from different households will also be able to meet up socially outdoors.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the measures last month as part of the government’s road map to take the country out of lockdown.

Take a look at what will be changing from tomorrow.

Order to stay at home remains

The government is still urging people to stay at home, but there are some reasons you can leave the house, such as:

• going to work, if you cannot work from home
• going to the doctors or getting medical help
• fleeing from injury, risk of harm or domestic abuse
• going shopping for essentials
• meeting up with your support or childcare bubbles

Everybody must still stay in their local area, which means the village, town or part of the city in which you live.

Changes to exercise and meeting outside

As of tomorrow, people can leave home for recreation outdoors, such as a coffee or picnic with their household or support bubble, or with one other person from outside their household.

It is still illegal to meet socially indoors.

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Care home residents and visitors

From Monday every care home resident in England will be able to nominate one visitor who can regularly visit.

The visitor will need to have a rapid test every time they visit, wear PPE and keep physical contact to a minimum.

Schools, universities and nurseries

All pupils and students will return to classrooms and lecture halls in schools and universities from Monday.

All secondary school pupils and university students will have to take three Covid-19 tests as they return to the classroom.

They will then be given two rapid tests to use each week at home.

Some university students on practical courses will be able to return to in-person learning.

Child care and other supervised children’s activities can resume where they enable parents to work, seek work, attend education, seek medical care or attend a support group.

Next steps to easing lockdown

The government says it will look at easing more measures in the week of March 29, when most schools will break up for Easter.

But it will be evidence-led and may be delayed if scientific data does not allow for extra easing.

If it does go ahead, people will be able to have outdoor gatherings of either six people or from two households.

Outdoor sports centres will be allowed to reopen and people can take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

The order to stay at home will end at this point, although many lockdown restrictions will remain.