Following the announcement given by the Prime Minister yesterday regarding the roadmap, please find here a link to the final publication and the summary version. Headlines from the Government’s press release are also included below for your information.

• The roadmap outlines four steps for easing restrictions, details of what each stage entails are included in the publicised roadmap. Before proceeding to the next step, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous easements. This assessment will be based on four tests which are that:

o   The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.

o   Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.

o   Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.

o   The government’s assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

• The four tests are currently being met so the first step will proceed from 8 March, at which point the top four priority cohorts for vaccinations – as determined by the independent JCVI – will have received a degree of immunity, three weeks after being offered their first dose.
• Due to the current, relatively uniform spread of the virus across the country, restrictions will be eased step-by-step across the whole of England at the same time.
• The roadmap seeks to balance between social and economic impacts, whilst preserving the health and safety of the country. Outdoor settings are known to be lower risk than indoor, so outdoor activities will be opened earlier than indoor ones.
• MPs will have an opportunity to vote on the regulations that will enable this roadmap in Parliament in the coming weeks.
• The government continue to work closely with the Devolved Administrations. They are setting out approaches for easing for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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