Prime minister Boris Johnson announced England’s roadmap out of lockdown on Monday 22 February 2021 – meaning that businesses in Gloucestershire could start to reopen from as early as March 2021.
When it’s safe to do so, we all can’t wait to get back to our favourite Gloucestershire restaurants, pubs, hair salons, hotels, attractions and more. And here’s when we can expect everything to start reopening in Gloucestershire…
Step one – everything reopening in Gloucestershire in March 2021
Schools and colleges will be the first in Gloucestershire to reopen, with children returning to classrooms on Monday 8 March 2021. Wraparound childcare will also resume, as will after-school outdoor sports.
From Monday 8 March 2021, people in care homes will also be allowed to have one visitor who they can hold hands with, providing they test negative for Covid and wear appropriate PPE.
Then, from Monday 29 March 2021, outdoor leisure and sports facilities in Gloucestershire can start to reopen. Outdoor sports venues, such as tennis and basketball courts, will be allowed to reopen and organised outdoor sports, like grassroots football, will be allowed to resume for children and adults.
Step two – everything reopening in Gloucestershire in April 2021
Providing step one is successful, another swathe of Gloucestershire’s businesses will be allowed to open in April 2021 – and travel outside of everyone’s own local area will be permitted again from Monday 12 April 2021.
Indoor facilities such as swimming pools and gyms; hair and beauty salons; community centres; and public libraries can reopen, while outdoor attractions like zoos; farm parks; theme parks; and drive-in cinemas will be able to reopen too.
Non-essential shops will be allowed to welcome customers back, while outdoor hospitality, such as beer gardens and alcohol takeaways, can reopen.
For anyone itching to get away, staycations can also resume – with campsites, self-catering holiday lets and self-contained holiday accommodation also allowed to reopen.
Step three – everything reopening in Gloucestershire in May 2021
From Monday 17 May 2021, providing the above steps have gone as expected, Gloucestershire’s restaurants, cafes and pubs will be able to open their doors again, as indoor hospitality can resume – with the rule of six remaining in place indoors. Hotels will also be allowed to reopen.
The rule of six will no longer apply outdoors, meanwhile organised indoor adult sport can return and indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, museums and theatres can reopen with social distancing in place.
Life events, such as weddings, will be able to have up to 30 guests and some large events such as football and rugby matches will be able to take place with capacity limits of up to 50 per cent.
There’s also hope for anyone looking forward to a summer holiday abroad, as the government is looking to allow international travel from May 2021 too.
Step four – everything reopening in Gloucestershire in June 2021
From Monday 21 June 2021, all limits on social contact should be lifted, both indoors and outdoors, meaning friends and family can get together again without restrictions – and leisure and hospitality venues can operate as normal.
Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen, large scale events will be able to resume and there will be no limits on the number of guests at life events such as weddings.
So, there is finally a light at the end of the lockdown tunnel and we can’t wait to get back to our favourite Gloucestershire businesses as soon as it’s safe.
For the very latest government guidance on lockdown restrictions easing, visit gov.uk.
