Boris Johnson has announced that all primary and secondary school pupils will return to the classroom for face-to-face teaching in two weeks’ time.
Pupils will receive face-to-face teaching for the first time since December. This will also allow for more social reconnection, which has been lacking throughout the winter months.
The Government is beginning to ease lockdown measures; it is working with a five-step plan, which should eventually see the economy completely reopened. The most optimistic scenario is that we could see a return to some sort of normality by late June.
The Prime Minister is expected to present the roadmap plan to the House of Commons later this evening. Under the latest revision, meeting with one other person outside will also be permitted, alongside the return to school.
The Government has also announced that, from March 29th, outdoor grassroots sport will be able to resume. This includes football pitches, tennis courts, and golf courses. For the first time in over 3 months, children will be able to take part in club activities again.
The path out of lockdown will rest upon 4 key points:
1. The deployment of vaccines continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations, which would put overwhelming pressure on the NHS.
4. The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.
These measures will currently only apply to England, and there has been no word thus far as to whether the devolved administrations will be adhering to the same roadmap out of lockdown.
The Government’s full roadmap can be read here:
495529065-C19-Response-Spring-2021
