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International students headed to the UK can breathe a huge sigh of relief as the restrictions on lockdown in England are being relaxed gradually. UK universities have adopted a “Blended Learning” pedagogy. Even though campuses are open, universities are in favour of hybrid learning where face-to-face tuition and digital lectures and seminars are in effect to allow social distancing guidelines to be followed.
But just because you can travel to the UK, it doesn’t mean there aren’t anymore lockdown rules. Read on to find out all the different stages of the lockdown rules in the UK.
What Are The Latest Lockdown Rules In England?
- People can meet outside – including in private gardens – in groups of up to six, or as two households.
- The stay-at-home rule has ended. However, the government has asked that people “minimise travel”.
- Holidays abroad are banned.
- Outdoor sports facilities can reopen, including golf courses, tennis and basketball courts, and outdoor swimming.
- Formally organised outdoor sports can restart.
- Weddings can take place, attended by up to six people.
- Non-essential shops, gyms and entertainment venues remain closed.
- Pubs and restaurants are closed, albeit takeaway is permitted.
Stage Two (No Earlier Than 12th April) –
- All shops are allowed to open. This includes close-contact services like hairdressers and beauty salons.
- Gyms, spas, zoos, theme parks, libraries and community centres can reopen.
- Restaurants and pubs allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors.
- Members of the same household can take a holiday within England in self-contained accommodation.
- Weddings attended by up to 15 people can take place.
Stage Three (No Earlier Than 17th May) –
- People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 30.
- Six people or two households can meet indoors.
- Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can seat customers indoors.
- Up to 30 people can attend weddings or other life events, like christenings.
- Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can open.
- Indoor entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and children’s play areas can open.
- Performances and large events can restart, but with limits on audience numbers.
- Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen.
- International leisure travel may resume.
- Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes can restart.
Stage Four (No Earlier Than 21st June) –
- All legal limits on social contact will be removed.
- No legal limits on the number of people who can attend weddings, funerals and other life events.
- Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen.
What Are The Current Rules In Wales?
- Travel restrictions have been lifted within the country. Residents are free to travel anywhere within Welsh borders.
- Six people from two different households (not counting children under 11) can meet and exercise outdoors and in private gardens.
- Organised outdoor activities and sports can resume for children and under-18s.
- Limited opening of outdoor areas of some historic places and gardens.
- Libraries and archives can reopen.
- Self-contained holiday accommodation, including hotels with en-suite facilities and room service, can open to people from the same household or support bubble. But non-essential travel to and from other UK nations remains banned.
From 12th April Onwards
- All pupils and students return to school, college and other education.
- All shops and close-contact services can open.
- The ban on travelling in and out of Wales ends.
- Driving lessons can resume and some driving tests (remainder on 22 April).
From Monday 26th April Onwards
- Outdoor hospitality, including cafes, pubs and restaurants can reopen.
- Outdoor attractions, including funfairs and theme parks can reopen.
From Monday 3rd May Onwards
- Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people.
- Outdoor wedding receptions must be attended by no more than 30 people.
From Monday 10th May Onwards
- People can form extended households again, allowing two households to meet and have contact indoors.
- Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen; individual and one-to-one training will be allowed, but not exercise classes.
From Monday 17th May Onwards
- Children’s indoor activities.
- Community centres.
- Organised indoor activities for adults, limited to a maximum of 15 people; this includes exercise classes.
What Are The Lockdown Rules 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. Communal worship is also now allowed with up to 50 attending (if social distancing permits). Here are some of the incoming changes –
From 5th April
- Hairdressers and barbers (but not mobile services) can reopen for pre-booked appointments.
- More shops can reopen and non-essential click-and-collect can resume.
- Outdoors non-contact group sports for 12 to 17-year-olds can resume.
From 12th – 19th April
- All pupils are back at school full-time.
From 26th April
- Scotland will return to the “levels” system of local restrictions, with the whole country in level three “if the data allows”.
- Travel within mainland Scotland is allowed.
- Up to six people from up to three households can socialise outdoors.
- Up to four people from two households can socialise indoors in a public place, such as a cafe or restaurant, but alcohol can’t be served.
- All shops and close-contact services like nail salons can reopen.
- Cafes, pubs and restaurants can open until 20:00 indoors (no alcohol) and 22:00 outdoors (alcohol permitted); takeaway food can be collected indoors.
- Gyms can open.
- Indoor attractions and public buildings like galleries, museums and libraries can open.
- Non-essential work in other people’s homes can take place.
- Driving lessons and tests can take place.
- Funerals and weddings including post-funeral events and receptions can take place with up to 50 people (no alcohol).
- Tourist accommodation can open with restrictions in place.
From 17th May
- All areas of Scotland in level three move to level two.
- Up to four people from two households can socialise indoors in a private home or public space.
- Hospitality venues return to “greater normality”, possibly serving alcohol indoors until 22:30. Customers may be asked to book two-hour slots. Alcohol can be served outdoors until 22:00.
- Outdoor adult contact sport and indoor group exercise can restart.
- Cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls can reopen.
- Small outdoor and indoor events can resume, with restrictions.
- Face-to-face support services can resume.
Early June
- All areas of Scotland in level two move to level one.
- Up to six people from up to three households can socialise indoors.
- Up to eight people from three households can socialise outdoors. Eight 12 to 17-year-olds from eight households can meet socially outdoors.
- Hospitality can remain open until 23:00.
- Indoor non-contact sports can take place.
Late June
- All areas of Scotland in level one move to level zero.
Northern Ireland Lockdown Rules
- People can now meet for exercise in groups of up to 10 from two households.
- Golf and other outdoor sporting activities can resume (although clubhouses and sports facilities must stay closed).
- Six people from two households can meet in a private garden.
- Garden centres can operate click-and-collect services.
- Lockdown rules ease in Northern Ireland.
From 12th April
- Remaining school year groups 8-11 return (Years 1-3, 4-7 and 12-14 have already returned).
- Stay-at-home message relaxed.
- All other non-essential retail can operate click-and-collect.
- Sports training with up to 15 people can resume.
- Up to 10 people from two households can meet in a private garden.
Source: gov.uk, BBC.
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