Lockdown legislation could be extended to October by MPs

Certain restrictions are set to be lifted on March 29

On Thursday, MPs will vote on whether to extend lockdown legislation covered by the Coronavirus Act until October. The Coronavirus Act was passed on March 25 2020, giving the government emergency powers in the fight against Covid-19. This Act could now be extended until October. Later this week, MPs will vote on whether to extend the Coronavirus Act to at least October. Under Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, certain restrictions are set to be lifted on March 29, April 12, May 17 and June 21. [caption id="attachment_267435" align="alignnone" width="2048"] On March 29, the 'stay at home' order will be relaxed, but people will be advised to remain local. (Photo: Getty)[/caption] Some of the upcoming plans include:

March 29th

• Stay at home order reneged, but people advised to remain local. No holidays allowed
• Meetings of either six people or two households permitted outside
• Outdoor sport and leisure facilities allowed to reopen (tennis courts, golf courses)
• Organised outdoor sport allowed for children and adults
• Outdoor parent and child groups (up to 15 parents) allowed

No earlier than April 12th

• Indoor leisure - including gyms - open for use individually or for household groups
• Rule of six or two households allowed to mix outside, not inside
• Outdoor attractions - zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas - can reopen
• Libraries and community centres reopen
• Barbers, hairdressers and nail salons can reopen
• All retail can reopen
• Outdoor hospitality can reopen
• Domestic overnight stays allowed (household only)
• Minimised travel advised, no international holiday
• Event pilots will begin

However, the relaxation of lockdown restrictions is contingent on four key points:

• That the UK's vaccine deployment programme continues to be a success
• That evidence shows jabs are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations, deaths and transmissions in vaccinated people
• That the NHS is not put under unsustainable pressure from a surge in infections and hospitalisations
• That the government's view of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new coronavirus variants

If MPs do vote in favour of extending the Coronavirus Act until October, it doesn't mean the roadmap out of lockdown will not go ahead as planned. Rather, it merely allows the government to reintroduce certain restrictions should cases of Covid-19 spiral out of control again.