Churchill’s Guide to The UK Lockdown Road Map

After over a year of COVID restrictions, tiers and lockdowns, there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel for this coronavirus nightmare. Across the UK, restrictions are slowly and cautiously being lifted in line with ‘COVID roadmaps’, which have already seen schools and some businesses re-open in April, as well as outdoor mingling between different households back on the agenda for Spring.

In this blog, we’ll be taking a closer look at the COVID roadmaps in England, Scotland, and Wales as well as the ways in which Churchill Support Services can help your business get back to normal safely and securely.

England

Announced back in February, the England COVID-19 roadmap details the slow and cautious return to normality in 4 stages. The first two stages have been successfully implemented, with schools re-opening on 8 March, the rule of six coming into force on 29 March and non-essential shops, beauty salons, leisure facilities and outdoor attractions which reopened on 12 April. All that’s left is stages 3 and 4, as we race towards that 21 June re-opening and promises of relative normality.

Step 3 – 17 May

• Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted (up to 30 people).
• Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will still apply.
• Indoor hospitality will be permitted to open, including pubs and restaurants.
• Advice on social distancing between family and friends, including hugging, to be updated.
• Large indoor performances and sporting events for up to 1,000 people will be allowed.
• Outdoor large performances and sporting events for up to 4,000 attendees will be permitted.
• Bigger sports stadiums can host events with a capacity of 10,000
• Weddings, wedding receptions, wakes, funerals, and christenings will be allowed with 30 people.

Step four – 21 June

If the vaccination programme proves to be successful and the numbers continue to fall, June 21 could represent a return to normality. This, of course, is subject to change depending on the data and will no doubt keep us on our toes as the situation develops further.

• All legal limits on social contact to be removed.
• Nightclubs to reopen and restrictions to be lifted on large events should numbers continue to fall.
• Restrictions on weddings and other private events to be lifted

Scotland

Introduced back in November, Scotland has a five-tier system to determine what COVID measures are needed to deal with the virus. Thanks to a successful vaccination programme and falling covid numbers, Scotland has set out a plan to lift restrictions over the next few months, moving down the levels until getting back to a semblance of ‘normality’ by the end of June. As of 26 April, some restrictions were lifted on household mingling outdoor and in public indoor spaces, with cafés, pubs and restaurants, as well as hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons permitted to re-open safely.

Level 2–17 May 2021

If progress continues to be made in the right direction, the Scottish Government hopes to move from Level 3 to Level 2 on 17 May, including:

• Four adults from two households permitted to meet inside private residence.
• Six adults from three households will be allowed to meet in an indoor public place.
• Eight adults from eight households can meet outdoors.
• Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, amusement arcades and bingo halls will be permitted to open.
• Stadiums and events can go ahead with restrictions on numbers (500 people for outdoor, seated events, 250 people for outdoor standing events, 100 people for seated indoor events)

Level 1– 7 June

If the numbers continue going in the right direction, Level 1 should be implemented in early June, seeing further restrictions lifted, including:

• Six adults from three households can meet up in a private residence.
• Eight adults from three households can mingle in in an indoor public place.
• Up to 12 adults from 12 households can meet up in outdoor spaces, both public and private.
• Up to 100 people can attend weddings and funerals.
• All entertainment (apart from nightclubs) can open.
• Stadiums and events can go ahead with restrictions on numbers (1000 people for outdoor, seated events, 500 people for outdoor standing events, 200 people for a seated indoor event).

Level 0– End of June

The last level with light restrictions, including:

• Eight adults from four households can meet up in a private residence.
• Ten adults from four households can mingle in in an indoor public place.
• Up to 15 adults from 15 households can meet up in public and private outdoor spaces.
• Up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals.
• Stadiums and events can go ahead with restrictions on numbers (2000 people for outdoor, seated events, 1000 people for outdoor standing events, 400 people for seated indoor events).
• Nightclub to remain closed.

Wales

Wales have recently lifted restrictions on hospitality, with pubs, restaurants and cafés able to open outdoors since Monday 26 April. While a definitive roadmap is yet to be published, there are some key dates available for Wales’ potential lockdown lifting. Of course, as with Scotland and England’s roadmaps, these dates are very much dependent on the data showing the right sort of numbers.

3 May

• Families can meet indoors and extended families can reunite.
• Gyms and leisure centres can reopen.
• Indoor activities such as exercise classes allowed for up to 15 people.
• Children’s indoor activities such as soft play can resume.
• Community centres can reopen.

Monday 17 May

• Pubs, restaurants and cafes can open indoors.
• Indoor entertainment such as cinemas, theatres and museums will be able reopen.

Churchill Support Services Is Here to Help You Get Back to Normal

No matter what type of business you run, whether you’re in the hospitality, retail or entertainment sector, Churchill Support Services is here to help you get back to business as the UK re-opens from lockdowns and restrictions. We can provide your business with bespoke security services, COVID cleaning solutions and COVID management strategies, so you can get back up and running safely and securely.

Event Security Services

With events set to make a comeback this summer, make sure your guests enjoy themselves safely and responsibly with our range of security solutions. From crowd control, emergency planning procedures, first aid and health and safety checks, our multi-talented, SIA licensed officers can offer the security support you’re looking for.

COVID Management Services

At the outset of the pandemic, we created a range of COVID management services to help businesses continue operating whilst mitigating the risk of COVID transmission. We can offer professional social distancing marshals to oversee social distancing efforts and mask wearing in your business, as well as a range of sophisticated technology, including thermal camera and people flow technology, to help stop the spread of the virus in your business.

Let’s get back to business Britain!

If you’re a business owner looking for COVID support over the next few months and beyond, get in touch with Churchill Support Services today. Our experience managers and frontline officers can help provide the peace of mind you need to open up to the public safely once again.

Churchill Support Services is a leading cross-industry security company supplying professional and comprehensive security solutions to organisations seeking expert Security Guards, CCTV & Event Security, Key Holding & Alarm Response, Mobile Patrols and Thermal Imaging & People Flow.

To find out more about how Churchill Support Services can protect your business, contact us today.