Yesterday we announced the next phase of our careful reopening of the economy, with outdoor sports facilities, competitive grassroots sport, open-air performances and beauty businesses to return from 11 July.
- In March, during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we had to press pause on many of things that brighten our lives – meals with friends trips to the cinema or theatre and playing sports.
- Thanks for to the efforts of our fantastic NHS and the British people, we have made huge progress against in tackling this disease, and as we continue to keep it under control, we can gradually see the things we enjoyed return, as we slowly go back to normal life.
- Each one of us played a role in fighting the spread of this virus. Now as we begin the next phase of easing lockdown, we can all play our part to help the country recover safely.
Yesterday’s announcement means:
- From tomorrow, many of the nation’s beloved theatres and performances venues will be back up and running, as outdoor theatres, opera, dance and music performances resume. Beauty salons, nail bars, tattoo and massage studios, physical therapy businesses and spas across England will be able to reopen, with strict measures in place to ensure the safety of both workers and the public.
- From 11 July we are allowing outdoor pools to reopen, followed by indoor gyms, pools and leisure centres on 25 July, helping the nation get match-fit to defeat this virus. We have published guidance with input from industry bodies and in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, which includes advice to pool, gym and leisure facilities on cleaning, social distancing and protection of staff to help get venues back up and running safely.
- Recreational grassroots sports will be permitted to begin returning outdoors, ensuring millions of people can once again enjoy the benefits that playing team sports brings. Each individual sport will submit an action plan and related guidance, demonstrating its mitigations before they can be approved to restart. Supporters will also be allowed to attend community fixtures in small numbers, provided they are in groups of two households only, or no larger than six people from a different household, and adhere to social distancing measures.
- From 13 July, businesses including beauty salons, nail bars and tattoo studios across England will be allowed to reopen safely, enabling many thousands of small independent businesses to return. Beauty salons, nail bars, tattoo and massage studios, physical therapy businesses and spas across England will be able to reopen, with strict measures in place to ensure the safety of both workers and the public.
