Lockdown Easing Summary
What Does It Mean for the Third Sector?
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday of the plan for easing lockdown, here’s a summary of the key dates and measures, as they may affect our sector. (We don’t have any further detail or advice for our sector from Kirklees Council and will let you know as and when we do. You can read the latest information on their website here)
Lateral Flow Testing
As part of the plan, the Government wants to encourage businesses and organisations to make use of regular Covid testing. Businesses with more than 50 employees (who cannot work from home) can register (by 31st March) to receive lateral flow tests. Find out more…
Smaller organisations can make use of the local mass testing centres (again if workers and volunteers can’t work or volunteer from home). Find out more…
Obviously more workers and volunteers won’t be working from home and will be eligible for testing as more places re-open.
Step 1: 8th March and 29th March
Step 1 includes a couple of key changes for the third sector:
- From 8th March, when schools and colleges re-open, wraparound childcare is allowed, including before and after school clubs, sports and activities (that allow parents or carers time to work, find work, attend a course, get medial help or go to a support group).
- And even though the key message is that people should still stay at home (i.e. in lockdown), you can now meet 1 person from another household outside for recreation or exercise (i.e. you can have a chat and a coffee or some food.
- From 29th March, the rule of 6 (or 2 households) returns for meeting outdoors (including in private gardens), which may allow for things like a group walk, an allotment session, or outdoor volunteering.
- Plus, outdoor sport and leisure facilities are allowed to open and organised outdoor sport is allowed for both adults and children (with no limit on numbers), which is good news for sports clubs and parks, and Easter activities. Please check the national guidelines and advice from your sport’s governing body.
- And parent and child groups with up to 15 people over the age of 5 (under 5s aren’t counted in the total numbers) can meet, allowing for parent and toddler groups and other parent support groups to potentially go ahead.
- At this point though, we still need to stay local and minimise unecessary travel.
Step 2: No Earlier than 12th April
If the 4 criteria set by the Government are met. These will be reviewed the week before. These are:
- Successful vaccine deployment
- Vaccines are having the required effect on reducing hospitalisations and deaths
- Infection rated do not surge and put pressure on the NHS
- The risk does not change due to new variants
This is when:
- Indoor leisure can re-open, including libraries and community centres, and children’s activities, and parent and child groups (with up to 15 people over the age of 5) will be able to take place indoors (but household mixing still isn’t allowed).
- Charity shops will be able to open and cafes will be able to operate outside (if people order, eat and drink whilst seated).
- Everyone should continue to work from home where possible and should minimise travel.
Step 3: If Step 2 Goes Ahead on 12th April, Step 3 Will Be No Later Than 17th May
(Depending again on meeting the 4 criteria and subject to a Government review the week before.)
If everything goes to plan, at this stage:
- 30 people will be able to meet outdoors and the rule of 6 (or 2 households) will be able to meet indoors
- Indoor, organised sport for adults (including group sport and exercise classes) will be allowed, and indoor hospitality, plus all remaining indoor entertainment, and accommodation
- Some large events, including conferences and performances will be allowed with maximum numbers and capacity.
- People should still work from home if they can.
Step 4: No Earlier than 21st June (if the previous 2 steps go ahead as planned and subject to the Government review)
- The remaining limits on social contact will be removed (subject to new guidance on minimising the risk of transmission).
- Any remaining settings can open
- And there will be no limits on life events (weddings, funerals, christenings etc)