The UK has announced a four-step roadmap out of the COVID-19 lockdown, including the dates when international travel, camping and day trips are hoped to resume.
At every stage of the roadmap, decisions will be led by what the government describes as “data not dates.” At present, travel within the UK or overseas is prohibited, with non-essential journeys and overnight stays forbidden. Under Step One of the roadmap, it is hoped that the ‘stay at home’ order will be lifted from 29 March, along with the ‘stay local’ guidance. Travel outside the local area will also be permitted, although day trips will still be discouraged.
The latter are expected to be permitted under Stage Two, when self-contained vacation accommodation, such as holiday lets and campsites, could open from 12 April. UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, said that international travel may resume from 17 May, with a travel taskforce setting out plans for this potential resumption on 12 April.
For those favoring staycations, the government is also looking to 17 May as the date that British travelers may be permitted to stay in hotels, hostels and B&Bs. Cinemas and museums are also expected to reopen on that date, although social distancing measures are likely to remain in place.
The roadmap is based on the national COVID-19 vaccination rollout going as planned, and evidence showing that vaccines are reducing deaths and the numbers of people requiring hospital treatment. For the various steps to be implemented, infection rates must not risk a surge in hospital admissions, and new variants of the virus must not change the risk of lifting restrictions.
Up-to-date information can be found on the British Government’s website here.
