As part of measures to ease COVID-19 restrictions, social distancing will from July 4 be observed at one metre plus instead of two metres.
Moreso, playgrounds, cinemas and museums will be allowed to open for business in England from next month.
The Prime Minister of England, Boris Johnson stated that these are part of measures for gradual lifting of restrictions in England as the country looked forward to total normalcy.
Highlighting what can be done and what can not be done in England from July 4, the Prime Minister clarified, ” The two-metre social distancing rule can now be relaxed and replaced with a “one metre plus” rule.
“This involves keeping one metre apart, plus other mitigations such as wearing face coverings, sitting people side to side rather than face to face to reduce transmission, and increased use of hand sanitiser.
“Indoor gatherings of any two households will be allowed from July 4.People will be able to visit someone’s house for a dinner party, for example, or to stay over with grandparents, as long as social distancing is observed.
“From July 4 pubs in England will reopen but pub-goers will have to adhere to social distancing and other Covid secure measures that they have in place.
“Supermarket-style queues, “pub hosts” and Perspex screens at the bar will greet customers waiting to enjoy their first pub pint since lockdown began”.
Two of the most popular British pub chains, Wetherspoons and Greene King, have outlined how their outlets will look as they reopen their doors from July 4 in England, while others have not been able to make plans.
A spokesman for one independent pub, the Gloucester Old Spot in Cheltenham, said they are “all guns blazing” for a reopening but need Government guidance for the sector beyond the new one-metre rule.
From signing in to going to the toilet and the ‘new normal’ for bartenders and servers, hundreds of pubs across the UK will have to change the way they operate.
Many venues and businesses will be allowed to reopen, as long as they are “Covid-secure”, for example by maintaining social distancing.
These include hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments or homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses.
Boris Johnson did however say 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. Outdoor gyms, playgrounds, cinemas, museums, libraries and galleries will also reopen from July 4, Boris Johnson confirms. But indoor gyms, swimming pools, spas and bowling alleys will remain closed.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.
He added, “Nightclubs, casinos, bowling alleys, indoor skating rinks, and indoor play areas including softplay must remain closed as further restrictions in England are eased.
“Spas, nail bars and beauty salons must also stay closed for now, as must massage, tattoo and piercing parlours, as they are currently not Covid secure.
“However indoor gyms may open in mid-July if they are Covid secure, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said on social media.
“Indoor fitness and dance studios, and indoor gyms and sport venues, must stay closed.
Sourced from Itv
