FROM Monday, a whole list of lockdown restrictions will be lifted in Bradford and across England as part two of the first stage of the roadmap out of lockdown comes into force.

The second stage comes into force from Monday, March 29, and sees a significant change in restrictions on people’s movement and on socialising.

It follows the first part of Stage One of lockdown which came into force on March 8, when schools reopened and people were able to meet up with one other person for recreation.

Covid infection rates have remained at a reasonable level since schools reopened, hospitalisations and deaths continue to come down, and the vaccination programme is continuing at a strong pace, with 29 million people now having had at least one dose, more than 50 per cent of the population.

This coming step will mean people are able to meet up with more people and resume much-loved hobbies.

What will you be able to do from March 29?

Social contact

As it is safer to meet outdoors than indoors, from Monday the rule of six will return outdoors, and this includes private gardens. It means people can meet in groups of six, or alternatively two households, while outdoors and maintaining social distancing, making it easier for people to see family and friends.

‘Stay at Home’ scrapped

The Stay at Home message in place since the beginning of January is being binned and replaced with ‘Stay Local’ guidance. It means people can now travel further distances for exercise and recreation; the Government has also not clarified what constitutes ‘local’ in the rules.

However, people must continue to work from home where they can, avoid travelling at peak times, and minimise journeys as much as possible. Travel abroad, except for a limited number of reasons, will continue to be prohibited, as will foreign holidays.

Recreation and sport

Sport is crucial for so many people to good mental health, and from Monday organised sport and outdoor sports facilities can reopen.

This includes basketball and tennis courts, open air swimming pools, and golf courses will be back open, just in time for the new season to begin.

Organised outdoor sport is also returning, meaning that grassroots football, rugby league and union, cricket and more clubs can finally reopen and resume training. Many have been shut for more than 12 months, and will allow adult and junior competitors to get back to the sports they love.

When are the next steps of the roadmap?

Step Two of the roadmap comes in just a fortnight – on April 12 - and signals further loosening of restrictions, with pubs and restaurants reopening for outdoor service, non-essential retail reopening, personal care such as hairdressers reopening, gyms reopening, outdoor attractions opening and self-contained holiday lets and campsites in England also back open.

Step Three follows on May 17, when pubs and restaurants can welcome indoor customers, outdoor gatherings of up to 30 people, the rule of six indoors and potentially social distancing being relaxed.

Hotels, cinemas, indoor group exercise and sport, reduced capacity crowds at sports grounds and at theatres will all also return too.

The final step, on June 21, sees all rules ended with life returning to normal. It’s hoped nightclubs and large events such as festivals and capacity crowds will also come back as well as foreign holidays.

All dates are subject to the Government’s four tests on vaccinations and Covid rates being met.