Kurt Janson, Director of the Tourism Alliance, has issued a very useful summary of the Prime Minister’s statement on 22nd February.

The main points are: 
  •  There will be no Tier system – England will be treated as a single area.
  • There will be four steps
  • There will be at least 5 weeks between each step
The four steps are:  

Step one – from 8 March

    • All schools to open
    • Stay at home order remains in place
    • People can meet one other person outside for recreation
      • From 29 March
        • People will be able to meet outside including in private gardens, subject to the rule of six, or provided no more than two households are meeting.
        • People will no longer be legally required to stay at home but should work from home if they can and try not to travel.
        • Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis or basketball courts and open air swimming pools can reopen and formally organised sports can restart.

Step Two –  no earlier than 12th April

  • Self-catering will open for individuals or household groups only.
  • Non-essential retail will open.
  • Pubs and restaurants will begin to open for outdoors service, without curfew, and no requirement for people to order a substantial meal.
  • Zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas will open
 
  • Step Three – no earlier than 17 May
    • Pubs and restaurants will open for indoor service
    •  Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs will open
    • Pubs and restaurants will open for indoor service
    • Cinemas and theatres will open
    • Most restrictions outdoors will be lifted, subject to a limit of 30 people
    • International travel will not resume before 17 May
 
 
  • Step Four – no earlier than 21 June
    • All limits on social contacts will be lifted
    • Large events and performances and weddings will be able to go ahead
    • Nightclubs will open
 
 
In Addition, there will be Four Reviews
  1. Looking at whether having a vaccine or a negative test result can reduce restrictions on social contact.
  2. Piloting the impact of testing and reduced social distancing on events.
  3. Looking at how to facilitate more inbound and outbound travel – to report back by 12 April
  4. Review social distancing measures, such as the one-metre-plus rule, rules on face coverings and working from home – to report back by 21 June.

Please navigate our website, particularly the holiday accommodation pages at https://www.visitsaffronwalden.gov.uk/where-to-stay/ with the above steps in mind.