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How are lockdown restrictions changing?

What restrictions are being lifted and when other changes are expected in the coming weeks and months.

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Lockdown restrictions in England are being eased on Monday.

Wales lifted some Covid restrictions on Saturday, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have also started relaxing their rules.

Here the PA news agency sets out what restrictions are being lifted and when other changes are expected in the coming weeks and months.

– What is changing from March 29

From Monday, when the Easter holidays begin, larger groups of up to six people, from any number of households, or a group of any size from up to two households, are allowed to gather in parks and gardens in England, according to Government guidelines.

Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts are also set to reopen, with organised adult and children’s sport – including grassroots football – able to return.

– When will more restrictions be eased ?

From April 12 at the earliest, shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries and outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens will be allowed to reopen.

HEALTH Coronavirus
Easing the lockdown in England (PA Graphics)

Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools will also be opened but for use by people on their own or in household groups.

Funerals can continue with up to 30 people, and the numbers able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise from six to 15.

– What happens next in England?

From no earlier than May 17 most social contact rules outside will be lifted although gatherings of more than 30 will remain illegal.

Indoors, the rule of six or two households will apply – although the Government has said it will keep under review whether it is safe to increase this.

Limited crowds will also be allowed at sporting events.

All remaining restrictions on social contact could be lifted from June 21, allowing for larger events to go ahead and nightclubs to reopen.

– How is the Government deciding when to lift restrictions?

There will a minimum of five weeks between each step of easing restrictions in England to allow for coronavirus-related data to be assessed against four tests:

The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.

Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions, which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.

– What is happening in Scotland?

Outdoor mixing between four people from up to two households is already allowed, along with outdoor non-contact sports and organised group exercise.

The country’s “stay at home” order is to be removed on April 2, with Scots instead advised to “stay local”.

From April 5, click-and-collect retail services, along with garden centres, car dealerships, homeware stores and barbers and hairdressers, will also be able to reopen.

Scotland will then move out of lockdown and return to a levels system – starting with a “modified level three” – on April 26.

On the same date, travel restrictions across the country will be dropped, and a host of other venues are allowed to reopen, including libraries, museums and galleries, gyms and pools.

– And Northern Ireland?

All school children are due to be back in classes by April 12, after a phased return was accelerated on Monday.

The wider lockdown restrictions will be reviewed on April 15, but significant changes before then include:

From April 1, up to six people from no more than two households can meet outdoors in a private garden.

Up to 10 people, from no more than two households, are able to participate in outdoor sporting activities, but clubhouses and changing rooms will remain closed.

Click-and-collect purchases allowed from garden centres and plant nurseries.

From April 12, up to 10 people from no more than two households can meet outdoors in a private garden.

Click and collect at all non-essential retail outlets.

– What about in Wales?

Coronavirus restrictions in Wales were eased on Saturday to allow people to stay in self-contained holiday accommodation.

The country’s “stay local” requirement has also been lifted, meaning there are no travel restrictions within Wales for the first time since it entered lockdown on December 20.

Other changes to Wales’ coronavirus rules from Saturday include allowing up to six people from two different households to meet and exercise outdoors, as well as organised outdoor activities and sports for under-18s.

Wales has already reopened hairdressers and allowed most school pupils to resume face-to-face teaching, with all pupils and college students expected to return to classrooms after the Easter break.

Supermarkets have been allowed to resume selling non-essential items and garden centres have also reopened, with the rest of non-essential retail and close contact services expected to reopen from April 12.

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