In the Government’s Roadmap - ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ - we set out four steps for easing restrictions. The Government aims to lift social contact limits at Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.

The dates for these steps are indicative “no earlier than” dates, which are five weeks apart and wholly contingent on the data and subject to change. Before moving to Step 4 and lifting legal social contact limits, the Government will examine the impact of the previous Step 3 and the four tests:

• 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

• Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

In the Government’s Roadmap - ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ - we set out four steps for easing restrictions. The Government aims to lift social contact limits at Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.

The dates for these steps are indicative “no earlier than” dates, which are five weeks apart and wholly contingent on the data and subject to change. Before moving to Step 4 and lifting legal social contact limits, the Government will examine the impact of the previous Step 3 and the four tests:

• 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

• Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

Schools continue to remain open for all children and young people, as they have since the start of the autumn term. Being at school is vital for children’s education and for their wellbeing. It continues to be the aim of the Department that all pupils, in all year groups, remain in school full-time.

The risk to children themselves of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 is very low, and there are negative health impacts of being out of school. For most children, the benefits of being back in the classroom far outweigh the low risk of COVID-19, and schools can take action to further reduce risks.

The Department published actions for schools during the COVID-19 outbreak to support them to welcome back all children from the start of the autumn term. The full guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools.

Schools should continue to undertake risk assessments and implement the system of controls set out in this guidance. These measures provide a framework for school leaders to put in place proportionate protective measures for pupils and staff. If schools follow the guidance and maximise control measures, they can be confident they are managing risk effectively. The measures in place include schools minimising contact between individuals. This can be achieved through keeping groups separate and maintaining distance between individuals.

From 5 November 2020, following guidance on new national restrictions in schools, children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should continue to attend education. The full guidance for schools and nurseries can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-and-childcare-settings-new-national-restrictions-from-5-november-2020#schools.

New guidance for shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 was published on 4 November 2020. The guidance can be viewed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

Where a pupil is unable to attend school because they are complying with clinical advice or public health advice, schools are expected to immediately offer them access to remote education.

To support schools in meeting the remote education expectations, the Department announced a further remote education package of support, which can be found on the remote education service at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

Support includes an additional 340,000 laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children, and development resources for staff, including a good practice guide and school-led webinars.

The Department is also investing £1.5 million of additional funding to expand the EdTech Demonstrator programme, which provides peer-to-peer support for schools and colleges.

The Department is in regular contact with officials in British embassies overseas to collect the latest international intelligence and evidence about how other countries have approached distance learning for pupils.

There remains an increased risk of transmission of COVID-19 where families and communities come together following the death of a loved one, from any cause. While recognising the importance of these rituals and gatherings, it is strongly advised, in order to stay safe, that numbers of mourners in physical attendance are kept to a modest number.

The premises will limit capacity based on how many people it can safely accommodate with social distancing in place. The guidance advises that the number of attendees should be restricted to a maximum of 30 persons for public health reasons. This is on the basis there is a high risk of social mixing and contact due to the nature of the events. In some cases the premises may restrict attendance to less than 30 people.

Guidance for managing a funeral during the COVID-19 pandemic is provided at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-a-funeral-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/covid-19-guidance-for-managing-a-funeral-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

We recognise how hard the impact of COVID-19 has been on people's relationships with their loved ones. Since 4 July, Government guidance has allowed couples to meet both indoors and outdoors. Single-adult households are able to form a support bubble which allows for close contact as normal. The guidance on social distancing from people you do not live with is critical to controlling the spread of the virus and keeping people safe, but we recognise that this is particularly challenging for people who do not cohabit with their partners to comply with. We are looking closely at this issue at present.

We recognise how hard the impact of COVID-19 has been on people's relationships with their loved ones. Since 4 July, Government guidance has allowed couples to meet both indoors and outdoors. Single-adult households are able to form a support bubble which allows for close contact as normal. The guidance on social distancing from people you do not live with is critical to controlling the spread of the virus and keeping people safe, but we recognise that this is particularly challenging for people who do not cohabit with their partners to comply with. We are looking closely at this issue at present.

The Government acknowledges that social distancing policy is having an impact on mental health and wellbeing. Public Health England has published guidance on social distancing and self-isolation, and advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak.

On 23 June, the Prime Minister announced changes to the Regulations which come into effect on 4 July. Included in these changes is that two households of any size can now meet inside and outdoors. This change in the Regulations enables more opportunity for emotional support through contact with family members for those in supported living.

The Department and Public Health England are currently updating the guidance for supported living provision to include advice on visiting in light of the easing of rules for social gatherings. We expect this guidance to be published shortly.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced that, from 4 July pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes (including workplace canteens) in England will be able to reopen both their outdoor and indoor spaces and offer on-site services to customers, provided they are COVID-secure and follow Government guidance. The updated guidance can be found at the GOV.UK website.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced that, from 4 July pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes (including workplace canteens) in England will be able to reopen both their outdoor and indoor spaces and offer on-site services to customers, provided they are COVID-secure and follow Government guidance.

The updated guidance can be found at the GOV.UK website.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced that, from 4 July pubs, restaurants, bars and cafes (including workplace canteens) in England will be able to reopen both their outdoor and indoor spaces and offer on-site services to customers, provided they are COVID-secure and follow Government guidance. Businesses should refer to the guidance that has been issued, and the updated guidance can be found at Gov.uk website.

Our advice is changing to state that people should either stay 2m apart or, where this is not possible, ‘1m plus’ – which is one metre plus mitigations. These mitigations will depend on the workplace or setting.