A report by Sky News says that when Boris Johnson set out his plan for easing coronavirus measures back in February, he told MPs that step four would see “all legal limits on social contact” being removed, with this meaning there will be no limits on the numbers of people you can meet up with, both inside and outside a home, although some guidance around this may be kept in place, with in addition, the remaining businesses that are still closed, including nightclubs, are set to reopen.
Restrictions on large events, such as sport, theatre, live music and business events, are set to be eased, along with all limits on weddings and other life events, but some question whether restrictions definitely be lifted on 19 July, with a final decision has yet to be made, but at the moment it does seem more likely than not, that this will happen, with the report saying that the rhetoric from the prime minister and his ministers, along with media reports, strongly suggests that this is the direction of travel.
However, it is worth remembering that the PM and various ministers initially said things were looking good for 21 June until the decision was taken to push step four back.
In the meantime, the future of other elements of pandemic life, such as face masks and social distancing, has been less clear and given the roadmap spoke specifically about “legal limits on social contact”, questions have been raised about whether some measures may remain beyond step four.
The PM himself has raised this prospect, saying some “extra precautions” may need to remain in place beyond step four, with the government carrying out a review into social distancing and “other long-term measures that have been put in place to cut transmission”.
The roadmap says, “This will inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which the rules on one-metre plus, the wearing of face coverings and other measures may be lifted” and “This will also inform guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete.”
The findings of this review have yet to be shared, although we can expect the results to be set out before step four goes ahead, although retaining some measures would provoke opposition from lockdown-sceptic Conservative MPs, who argue that doing so would dilute the full-throated “Freedom Day” they have been demanding.
Figures in the medical profession though have been calling for some measures to remain in place because of rising case numbers and the spread of the Delta variant, first identified in India.
Sky News has been given more detail on what life post-19 July could very well look like, with according to reports in the Sunday newspapers, face masks and social distancing will no longer be required once step four comes into effect.
According to the Sunday Times, having to scan a QR code before entering a bar, restaurant or similar venue will also be a thing of the past after 19 July, meaning a smaller risk of people being told to isolate by Test and Trace and the paper also reported that mass events, including festivals, will be allowed.
In addition, Downing Street said on Saturday it is considering scrapping quarantine requirements for those who have received two vaccine doses if they come into contact with someone who is infected.
The messaging from ministers in recent days indicates there will be a shift in focus from legal restrictions to people exercising their own judgement and making their own decisions., with Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick telling Sky News, “We are going to now move into a period where there won’t be legal restrictions, the state won’t be telling you what to do, but you will want to exercise a degree of personal responsibility and judgement, adding, “So different people will come to different conclusions on things like masks, for example.”
So, while there will almost certainly not be a legal requirement to wear face masks, guidance may be kept in place advising people to do it in certain circumstances, although businesses and organisations could very well take a different view and still require the wearing of masks or adherence to social distancing in their premises.
Mr Jenrick said Ministers are now “able to think about how we can return to normality as much as possible” thanks to the vaccine rollout, saying, the data at the moment “looks very positive” ahead of 19 July, adding, “It does seem as if we can now move forward and move to a much more permissive regime where we move away from many of those restrictions that have been so difficult and learn to live with the virus.”
Another government review – the Events Research Programme – has been looking into how large events can be put on in COVID times, examining the risk of transmission and how this can be mitigated, with the results of the first phase published at the end of last month, with ministers saying it has “helped to understand how the risk of transmission can be reduced at large events when mitigating measures are introduced”.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said, “The study gathered significant data on behaviour, movement, ventilation and testing and has shown that with mitigating factors, such as social distancing at pinch points, face coverings and staggered entry and exit times, events can be conducted more safely at increased capacities while maintaining a low risk of transmission,” adding, “While additional ERP events continue to gather further evidence, no decisions have been taken on the full reopening of mass events”, and “The government will set out its position on this ahead of Step 4 in the roadmap.”
So it is possible there may be some things that are different about large-scale events once restrictions are lifted in step 4.
Officially, the government says that COVID passports (requiring proof of a recent negative test or vaccination) “could have an important role to play both domestically and internationally, as a temporary measure” and it notes that even without government action on the matter, proving your COVID status is “likely to become a feature of our lives until the threat from the pandemic recedes”.
While the exact requirements may vary, many countries now require arrivals to provide proof of their vaccine status or evidence of a recent negative test to gain entry.
The EU has just brought in a bloc-wide “Digital COVID Certificate” which provides the user with proof they have either been vaccinated against COVID, have received a negative test result or have recovered from the virus.
Talks are ongoing on how to integrate the EU’s system with the NHS one, but while it seems that COVID passports will be a feature of international travel, their use domestically is uncertain.
It is already known that they will not be required on public transport, essential shops or to access essential services, but Ministers have said they could play a role in places like theatres, nightclubs, and at mass events like festivals and sports events, given the fact that these will see large numbers of people brought together in close proximity.
Also, hospitality venues like pubs and restaurants have also been suggested as potential settings where COVID passports could be utilised, but this has sparked a backlash in the past as it is a controversial idea, given it raises civil liberties issues, but there are a range of concerns about them, something the government acknowledges.
The Cabinet Office says, “Vaccination is not suitable for all citizens and there are other means of demonstrating a reduced risk of transmission,” adding, “The government believes that COVID-status certification could be acquired through vaccinations, testing or natural immunity”, adding, “It is also important that there are appropriate exemptions for people for whom vaccination is not advised and repeat testing is difficult.”
So what about travel?
Restrictions on travel were eased on 17 May, with a traffic light system introduced for destinations around the world.
Britons can travel to nations on the green list that is Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Balearic Islands, Spain, Barbados, Brunei, Dominica, Grenada, Iceland, Israel, Madeira, Portugal, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, plus the following overseas territories: Ascension Island, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands and not have to quarantine for 10 days upon their return, although they still have to take a pre-departure test and another two days after arriving, with most countries, including European destinations like France, Italy, Germany, Portugal and Greece, on the amber list and Britons returning from these countries having to isolate for 10 days, as well as taking two tests on days two and eight after returning.
The government has been discouraging people from travelling to amber list destinations on holiday, insisting trips should only be undertaken for limited reasons.
Also, only British and Irish nationals, or those who have residence rights in the UK, are allowed to come to the UK from red list countries.
A relaxation of restrictions for those who have been fully-vaccinated is on the horizon though, with those who have received two doses will be able to travel to amber list countries and not have to quarantine upon their return later this summer, the government has confirmed.
The Department for Transport has said that when the new exemption comes into force, the guidance that people should only travel to amber list countries for “essential” reasons will also be dropped.
The PM is ‘confident’ two jabs will enable travel, but other countries could very well choose to introduce restrictions on UK arrivals, so a hassle-free summer holiday or family reunion is not guaranteed.
The PM has been at pains to dampen down expectations of a widespread return to normality for international travel in his public comments recently, saying, “I want travel to be possible, but I’ve got to stress that this year will not be like every other year because of the difficulties with COVID,” adding, “People shouldn’t expect that it will be completely hassle free.”
So, what does this mean for Austral and are there lessons here for us down under? We shall have to wait and see! What do you think?
An edited report from Sky News by John Alwyn-Jones Special Correspondent Travel and Tourism, Global Travel Media.
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