A further easing of lockdown restrictions is planned for next week with the second phase of Boris Johnson’s road map expected to begin.

The Prime Minister unveiled his four-stage plan to lead the country out of a third national lockdown in February.

Pupils across England returned to the classrooms on March 8 in the first stage of Boris Johnson’s road map out of lockdown.

From Monday 29 March, groups of up to six people will be allowed to gather outside in parks or public gardens.

Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts are also set to reopen, with organised adult and children’s sport – including grassroots football – able to return.

From Monday, the “stay at home” order will also end and the Government will instead encourage people to stay local where possible.

But progressing along the “road map” will depend on meeting four tests: the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence of vaccine efficacy, an assessment of new variants, and keeping infection rates below a level that could put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is changing?

From 29 March 2021, the following lockdown restrictions are set to ease.

Outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households will be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.

This change reflects the ‘Rule of Six’ that was introduced in 2020, and will apply in private gardens as well as public outdoor areas.

Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts and open-air swimming pools will also be allowed to reopen, and people will also be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

Will I be able to travel?

While the ‘stay at home’ rule is expected to end on 29 March, strict travel restrictions will still apply, with the Government urging people to ‘stay local’.

People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes.

A ban on leaving the United Kingdom without a reasonable excuse is included in new coronavirus laws coming into force next week.

The legislation for restrictions over the coming months, as the Government sets out its road map for coming out of lockdown, was published on Monday.

Entitled the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021, the laws come into force on March 29.

According to the legal document: “The Regulations also impose restrictions on leaving the United Kingdom without a reasonable excuse (regulation 8).”

The law says no-one may “leave England to travel to a destination outside the United Kingdom, or travel to, or be present at, an embarkation point for the purpose of travelling from there to a destination outside the United Kingdom” without a reasonable excuse.

It suggests anyone who breaks them could face a £5,000 fine.

The rules must be reviewed by the Government every 35 days, according to the legal papers.

Will the changes actually happen?

The Bolton News: (Canva)(Canva)

Mr Johnson and his government ministers have made it clear that these dates are subject to change based on the data, but stage one of the process went ahead on schedule earlier this month.

That means there is a chance that the planned 29 March easing may not happen, if the four tests are not met.

Those four tests are:

  • the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
  • evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
  • infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
  • assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern

Ministers have stressed in the face of recent news of vaccine supply issues to the UK that the road map plans remain unaffected.

On 19 March, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told LBC the road map out of lockdown was not affected by the current vaccine supply issues: “The road map is not affected, so at the moment, we remain on course for the next easing on (March) 29,” he said.

The UK’s vaccination programme continues apace, with the Government announcing on 20 March that half of the UK’s adult population – some 26,853,407 people aged 18 and over – have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

For more information on the Government’s road map out of lockdown in England, go to the website