When will lockdown end in Mansfield? The ‘roadmap’ for leaving lockdown behind

It has been announced that lockdown restrictions could stay in place until cases drop below 1,000 a day – meaning March could be the earliest that we see a considerable easing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says any relaxation of rules outlined in the roadmap would be "cautious but irreversible".

He said: "We've got to be very prudent and what we wanted to see is progress that is cautious but irreversible and I think that's what the public and people up and down the country will want to see.”

However, there could be a gradual easing of some rules and opening of education and leisure facilities outlines in the PM’s ‘roadmap’ on Monday – including re-opening of schools, pubs and gyms.

What could re-open and when?

Schools

Scotland has already announced that it will enter a staggered return programme for schools starting next Monday, February 22, when the Prime Minister could announce a plan for schools in England.

Boris Johnson has already said the government hopes to start reopening English schools from March 8, which could also be part of a staggered programme dependent on ages and year groups.

Health experts have stated that schools are safe and should open ‘as soon as possible’.

This is dependent on the national R rate, which is currently at 0.7 to 0.9, lower than a 0.9 to 1 peak in December last year.

The infection rate in Mansfield is currently at 263.5, considerably lower than as recently as mid-January.

Pubs, bars and restaurants

The earliest that Mansfield’s pubs, bars and restaurants have been rumoured to open is early-April, with a number of rules in place.

The Daily Mail said ministers are weighing up allowing holiday lets to open in time for the Easter weekend and that pubs could open in May, but with only up to two households permitted to mix indoors.

The rule of six would then come into force for mixing inside by June, it added.

There have also been talks of pubs opening with an outdoor-only policy, but industry experts have said this would not be viable for ‘most’ pubs.

A government spokesperson told The Sun: “We will hopefully be sipping pints in the spring sunshine sooner rather than later.”

Sport and gyms

There is also the possibility that there could be an easing on outdoor recreation and socialising outlined in the Prime Minister’s roadmap.

It has been reported that the ‘roadmap’ will ease lockdown in three stages, with schools and education facilities first, and possible re-opening of pubs and bars second, but it is unknown whether the Prime Minister plans to re-open gyms.

This could include being allowed to meet a person from another household, and not just for exercise, as well as the return of social distanced sport – such as boules or tennis.

It is unknown when other leisure activities, such as 5-a-side football and grassroots sport, would be allowed to return as part of the ‘roadmap’.