22/02/2021 - Permalink

Coronavirus: Council welcomes the Government’s plan to lift the Lockdown

Related topics: Coronavirus / Corporate / Health / Partner organisations

Shropshire Council has welcomed the Government’s announcement regarding the plans to gradually bring the country out of the third Lockdown.

Today, the Government has announced a four-step plan, subject to certain conditions being met.

These include:

Step 1
8 March

    • All schools to reopen
    • Outdoor school sports and activities allowed to resume
    • People allowed outdoors recreationally on a one-plus-one basis (socially-distanced)
    • Funerals can have up to 30 people

29 March

  • Up to six people from two households allowed in outdoor spaces
  • Outdoor sports facilities to reopen (eg tennis courts, basketball courts)
  • Organised adult or children’s sports activities can return
  • Outdoor child and parent groups can return (up to 15 parents)

Step 2 – after five weeks of Step 1, no earlier than 12 April

  • Non-essential retail to reopen
  • Outdoor hospitality can reopen
  • Gyms and indoor leisure open for individual use
  • Hairdressers and personal care services can reopen
  • Outdoor attractions such as zoos, drive-through cinemas and theme parks can reopen.
  • Driving lessons can restart
  • Funeral wakes, weddings and receptions can have up to 15 people

Step 3 – after five weeks of Step 2, no earlier than 17 May

  • Indoor hospitality, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. The requirement to order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) will remain
  • 30 person limit outdoors – Rule of Six will apply indoors (subject to conditions)
  • International travel may be allowed (subject to conditions)
  • Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas can reopen
  • Indoor entertainment, such as museums, cinemas and children’s play areas, can reopen
  • Remaining accommodation, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs, can reopen
  • Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes allowed
  • Significant life events – allow up to 30 people

Step 4 – after at least five weeks of Step 3, no earlier than 21 June

  • Remove all legal limits on social contact, allowing people to meet indoors
  • Nightclubs and theatres allowed to reopen (subject to conditions)
  • All limits on weddings and other life events removed

Further details can be found here

The four conditions that must be met at each phase of Lockdown easing are:

  • The COVID-19 vaccine programme continues to go to plan
  • Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying with the virus or needing hospital treatment
  • Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions
  • New variants of the virus do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting restrictions.

Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and climate change, said:

“The Government’s roadmap for cautiously easing Lockdown restrictions in England gives us all hope after what has been a challenging few months for both our residents and local businesses.

“This is certainly a step in the right direction and gives us all something to aim towards – but if we drop our guard, we’ll be back to square one. It is important to remember that some people who develop COVID-19 will not have symptoms and that a new virus strain, which spreads more easily, is circulating in the West Midlands.

“It’s important to stress Lockdown measures will be relaxed gradually, and we all need to continue playing out part by sticking to the rules to help get our cases down even further.

“The safety of school pupils and staff is our main priority. We are working with schools and planning for a proposed return to school for all pupils from Monday 8 March.

“Our education teams are working very closely with headteachers, and I’d like to thank staff and parents for their continued support during a hugely difficult time. We will now review the situation on a weekly basis and continue to keep parents informed of key developments.

“Lockdown restrictions still remain in place and we are here to help.

“Our Shropshire Council COVID-19 Helpline – ‪0345 678 9028  – remains open for anyone that needs additional support.”

Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, said:

“The figures for the number of people with COVID-19 in Shropshire have been declining in recent weeks, which is encouraging news. This is down to the collective efforts of all our residents, and I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone for all the sacrifices they continue to make.

“However, our cases rate still remains high and we have a long road ahead. We’ve seen before what happens when we relax too soon and how quickly the virus can spread when we let our guard down.

“The news that we now have a gradual route out of Lockdown will be welcomed by many of our residents, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.

With the collective efforts of everyone, we can drive down the levels of COVID-19 in Shropshire even further before Lockdown eases.”

Step Up and help us stop the spread of coronavirus:

  • Stay At Home
  • Work from home, if you can
  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms
  • Wear a face covering in indoor settings (food shops, workplaces) where social distancing may be more difficult, and where you may come close to people who are not part of your household or bubble.
  • Anyone who has any symptoms should book a test and not leave home for at least 10 days. Those living in households should self-isolate for 10 days if they or any members of the household receive a positive test.

For local advice and support during the pandemic (especially if you are self-isolating), call Shropshire Council’s COVID-19 Helpline on 0345 678 9028 or visit our website at www.shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.