UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced non-essential retail, including spas, salons, close-contact services and gyms, could reopen by 12 April 2021, at the very earliest.
Johnson revealed the news today as part of step two of the Government’s four-step lockdown exit plan for England, which he described as a ‘cautious but irreversible’ roadmap for change.
The Government has laid out the plans in its new document called COVID-19 Response - Spring.
This dictates that spas will only be able to reopen saunas and steamrooms once step three is initiated.
Step one of the exit plan is scheduled to take place on 8 March and be split into two sections. The latter will kick off on 29 March.
Before proceeding to the next step, the Government will examine the data to assess the impact of the previous step based on four tests, relating to vaccines, infection rates and new variants.
The Prime Minister revealed there will be a five-week review period between each step and that the Government will provide one weeks' notice before progressing to the next stage.
Restrictions will be eased at the same time across England.
Johnson also said the Government is launching multiple reviews to explore how limits can continue to be eased, including an investigation into how to facilitate more inbound and outbound travel and another looking into reassessing social-distancing measures.
Johnson concluded by saying that if virus rates continue to drop and evidence supports it is safe to do so, all restrictions could be lifted in England by 21 June.
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