Pubs, Hotels And Hairdressers To Reopen As PM Announces Lockdown Easing

Boris Johnson has announced that pubs, restaurants, cinemas, museums and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen from July 4.

As reported by Sky, here's a summary of the latest easing of lockdown measures in England announced by the PM this afternoon (Tuesday).

- Social distancing

The two-metre social distancing rule can now be relaxed and replaced with a "one-metre-plus" rule.

People should aim to keep two metres apart, but where this is not possible, they should keep one metre plus other mitigations. 

These include wearing face coverings, sitting people side to side rather than face to face to reduce transmission, and increased use of hand sanitiser.

- Indoor gatherings

Indoor gatherings of any two households will now be allowed. 

People will be able to visit someone's house for a dinner party, for example, or to stay over with grandparents - but social distancing must still be observed.

This does not mean people from more than two households can meet inside.

- Reopening businesses

Businesses which can reopen include hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments or homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses. Shared facilities must be kept very clean.

Restaurants, cafes, workplace canteens, bars, pubs and cinemas can reopen, as can places of worship, libraries, community centres and bingo halls.

Theatres and concert halls can reopen but not for live performances.

Museums and galleries, hair salons and barbers can reopen.

Outdoor playgrounds, outdoor gyms, funfairs, theme parks and adventure parks and activities can reopen.

Amusement arcades, outdoor skating rinks, indoor leisure centres or facilities - including indoor games and recreation - can also open up.

Social clubs, model villages and indoor attractions at aquariums, zoos, safari parks, farms, wildlife centres, and any place where animals are exhibited to the public as an attraction, can reopen.

- The venues which must remain shut

These include nightclubs, casinos, bowling alleys, indoor skating rinks, and indoor play areas including softplay.

Spas, nail bars and beauty salons must also stay closed for now, as well as massage, tattoo and piercing parlours.

Indoor fitness and dance studios, and indoor gyms and sport venues, must stay closed.

Swimming pools and water parks will stay closed.

Exhibition or conference centres that are to be used for exhibitions or conferences must also stay closed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms pubs, cafes, restaurants, hotels, cinemas and museums in England will reopen on 4 July as hospitality sector restarts in easing of lockdown restrictions

— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) June 23, 2020