MondayMonday
Monday

What you can and can't do in Northamptonshire from Monday

March 29 is next step in PM's roadmap out of lockdown — here's what's changing and what's not

It seems to have been a long time coming, but Monday finally marks the next step in Boris Johnson' s roadmap out of lockdown.

One more weekend and the stay-at-home message, which has been in force since January 5, will be ditched.

But don't all rush at once!

Alongside the new rules allowing friends and family to meet up outdoors, there are plenty of ifs and buts and the two-metre rule about social distancing — staying six feet apart from anybody you don't live with — is everywhere.

And, not for the first time during the last 12 months, just how far you can go is a little bit vague.

It will not be illegal to travel further afield to see relatives outdoors but the public will be advised to minimise travel and still only meet up with friends and family locally.

And the Covid roadmap adds people should minimise the frequency of social gatherings, and the numbers present, "wherever possible".

It states: "It will remain critical with most people still unprotected by vaccines that people continue to follow the guidance, use common sense and socially distance from other households."

Yet, apart from meeting up with pals you've not seen since Christmas, there's not much to go out for.

Shops, hairdressers, gyms and the like will not re-open until April 12, at the earliest, as long the Government's four tests for easing restrictions are met.

These are the four tests that will have to be passed before the Government moves on to the next stage of easing restrictions:

■ The vaccine deployment programme is continuing successfully – including the flow of supplies

■ 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

■ The Government’s assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new “variants of concern”

We've done our best to unpick what you can do and can't from Monday, but click HEREif you want to see for yourself.