At last news that we are heading out of lock down soon: The Road Map Back to Normality
Blog: 24th February 2021
At last news that we are heading out of lockdown soon: The Road Map Back to Normality
1. The first date our PM Boris Johnson has given us, March 8th when all the children will return to school; both at primary and secondary school. Secondary school pupils will be wearing masks in lessons and be regularly tested. University and College students who do practical courses will be back in, but University Courses will consider after Easter for face- to- face lectures; others continue online till they hear. Meet one person outdoors. One person can meet family in a care home. From 29th March “Rule of Six” for meeting outdoors, including in your garden.
2. 12th April
All shops, gyms, hairdressers, libraries and swimming pools can open; pub beer gardens and restaurants reopen for outdoor seated service only. UK holidays for single households in self contained lets.
3. 17th May; up to 30 people can meet outdoors; 6 people/two households indoors. Indoor hospitality opens including pubs, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, B&Bs, museums. Sports venues and theatres open to limited capacity. Possibly international travel. Weddings up to 30 people
4. 21st June All legal limits on social contacts removed. Remaining hospitality re-opens. Large events and performances could restart with possible summer festivals and concerts. Theatres allowed full capacity and nightclubs re open. No limits on people attending weddings and funerals.
The furloughs scheme has been extended till end of April. The additional amount of £20 added to Universal Credit is set to end first week in April. Keep an eye out next week when there is a budget statement and The Chancellor will announce his plans.
Other news affecting Refugees and Asylum Seekers; last summer two old army camps of Napier Barracks, Kent and Penally Camp in Pembrokeshire were handed over by Ministry of Defence to The Home Office for temporary accommodation for asylum seekers for just 12 months; there have been numerous tales of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions, poor access to healthcare and legal advice. There has been an inspection of the barracks in January 2021 after months of accusations and now there has been action taken to reduce numbers of people and cleaning and fixing things which had been dirty and broken for months. We need to be aware of these places and ensure that conditions for Refugees and Asylum Seekers are maintained to a much higher standard. Keep the spotlight on them otherwise people forget and are not aware.
This pandemic has highlighted all the inequalities in society; we need to make a concerted effort to improve standards in all housing and level up the facilities available to people in the community to live a better, healthier life with access to the countryside and outdoors. We need to look after our environment and make it a pleasant greener place to live.
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