Bowling alleys, casinos and soft play can all reopen
The easing of lockdown restrictions in England will continue this weekend, with many more businesses allowed to reopen.
The measures were due to be introduced on August 1st, but were postponed for two weeks due to an increase in coronavirus cases in England.
The new rules will come into effect on Saturday (August 15th).
Wedding receptions with up to 30 guests will now be permitted, along with "close contact" beauty treatments.
Skating rinks can reopen, as can casinos, bowling alleys, and soft play centres.
There will also be the piloting of spectators at sporting events, beginning with the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre this weekend.
Prime minister Boris Johnson said that he hopes the easing of restrictions "will allow more people to return to work and the public to get back to more of the things they have missed".
Here are all the things that will now be allowed under the new changes:
- Wedding receptions with up 30 guests, as a sit-down meal
- Beauty treatments that involve close contact, including facials, eyebrow threading, eyelash treatments, make up application and microblading
- Bowling Alleys can reopen
- Casinos can reopen
- Skating rinks can reopen
- Soft play centres can reopen
- Indoor theatres and music venues can reopen, with social distancing measures for the audience
- Trials of a small number of sporting events with spectators, starting with the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield
- Trialing of events at conference venues, though full reopening not expected until at least October 1st
The government has said that the new rules will not apply to areas that are under local lockdown restrictions.
Tougher penalties are also being introduced for people who repeatedly fail to wear masks in required areas. Currently, there is a £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days), but under the new measures, the fine will be repeated doubled, up to a maximum of £3,200.
