Prime Minister Boris Johnson has just announced at this afternoon's press Downing Street briefing that the next stage of the roadmap for lifting England's lockdown will go ahead on 17 May.

This will mean that from next Monday, operators can welcome customers inside their pubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels and B&Bs etc.


Indoor entertainment such as museums, cinemas, theatres, concert halls can all open, along with conference centres and sports stadiums.

Organised adult sports and exercise classes can also restart indoors.

People will be able to meet in groups of up to 30 outdoors, while six people or two households can meet indoors. People will be able to stay overnight with those not in their household or bubble. Hugging will also allowed!

Also, up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and other life events, and the number of people who can attend a funeral will no longer capped, but determined by the size of venue.

Care home residents allowed up to five named visitors, and have more freedom for visits out of the home.

Ahead of this Downing Street briefing, the UK reduced its Covid alert level from level four to three, meaning the virus is in general circulation but transmission is no longer high or rising exponentially, so restrictions can be gradually reduced.

The final stage of the roadmap will kick in on 21 June when it's hoped all legal limits on social contact will be removed, and nightclubs will at last be allowed to reopen.

(source: BBC News)