ON Monday, the first stage of the Prime Minister's roadmap out of lockdown comes into force, with Britons handed back some of their freedom.

Infections are falling across the country, by 28 per cent in Bradford in the past week, and hospitalisations and deaths are also coming down.

The successful rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine by the NHS is having a big impact on reducing serious illness, combined with the stay at home message and third national lockdown, which has led to cases to come down.

As more and more of the most vulnerable people are given the vaccine and cases hopefully continue to fall, the UK is set to reopen again in four stages during the Spring and early Summer, allowing life to get back to normal.

The first stage of this reopening comes on Monday, March 8, when slight easing to the national lockdown comes into force.

This is what you will be allowed to legally do from Monday: 

  • Schools reopen - children in primary and secondary school and further education students will go back to being physically in school.
  • Twice-weekly rapid testing for pupils at secondary school and college students is also introduced, as well as rapid testing for all teachers.
  • Higher education students on practical courses at university can also return.
  • Childcare and children's supervised activites can also resume where necessary to allow parents to resume working.
  • People can leave the home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble, or with one other person from outside their household.
  • Care home residents can nominate one regular visitor to come and see them in the home as long as they are tested and wear full PPE.

The second part of Stage 1 will come into force on March 29, when sport is allowed to resume outdoors, the Rule of Six returns outdoors - including in private gardens - and the 'stay at home' rule ends, meaning you can travel unlimited distances in England for recreation or exercise, such as to the Yorkshire Dales or the seaside.

The second stage begins on April 12 - when pubs can reopen for outdoor service - followed by Stage 3 on May 17 when indoor service in pubs and restaurants begins again, followed by June 21 when all rules are lifted.