What you can do from Monday 17 May

Date published: 14 May 2021

Some of the coronavirus restrictions are changing on Monday 17 May.

The government advises that employees should continue to work from home where possible, and those with Covid-19 symptoms should get a test and follow the stay at home guidance.

If you are travelling within the UK, do so safely and plan your journey in advance.

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Meeting family and friends

From 17 May, if you are meeting friends and family, you can make a personal choice on whether to keep your distance from them, but you should still be cautious. This advice applies to everyone, including people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and to pregnant women, apart from care home residents where separate guidance applies.

Covid-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact (within 2 metres). The further away you can keep from other people, and the less time you spend in close contact with them, the less likely you are to catch Covid-19 and pass it on to others. Close contact, including hugging, increases the risk of spreading the virus.

More guidance about keeping your loved ones safe can be found here. 

Gatherings should be limited to six people or two households indoors (each household can include a support bubble, if eligible), ofr - if outdoors limited to 30 people.

You must not interact with anyone outside of your own group (of 30 people outdoors or six people indoors), unless an exemption applies.

 

 

Indoor entertainment and attractions

Cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, casinos, amusement arcades, museums, indoor mini golf and children’s indoor play areas will be permitted to open with Covid secure measures in place.

Hospitality

Indoor hospitality venues such as restaurants, pubs, bars and cafés can reopen.

 

 

Weddings and funerals

Funeral attendance will no longer be limited to 30 people, but will be determined by how many people the Covid secure venue can safely accommodate with social distancing. Limits at weddings, wakes and other commemorative events will be increased to 30 people. Other significant life events, such as bar/bat mitzvahs and christenings, will also be able to take place with 30 people.

Indoor and outdoor events

People will be able to attend indoor and outdoor events, including live performances, sporting events and business events. Attendance at these events will be capped according to venue type, and attendees should follow the Covid-secure measures set out by those venues.

Organised indoor sport

Organised indoor sport will be able to take place for all (this includes gym classes). This must be organised by a business, charity or public body and the organiser must take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of transmission.

 

 

Care homes

The rules for care home residents visiting out and receiving visitors will change, allowing up to five named visitors (two at any one time), provided visitors test negative for Covid-19.

Parents and child groups

Support groups and parent and child group gathering limits will increase to 30 people (not including under 5s)

Higher education

All higher education students will be able to access in-person teaching.

 

 

Holiday accommodation

All holiday accommodation will be open (including hotels and B&Bs). This can be used by groups of up to six or two households (each household can include a support bubble, if eligible).

International travel

There will no longer be a legal restriction or permitted reason required to travel internationally. There will be a traffic light system for international travel, and you must follow the rules when returning to England depending on whether you return from a red, amber or green list country.

 

 

Keeping yourself and others safe

Social distancing is still very important. You should stay 2 metres apart from anyone who is not in your household or support bubble where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings) if you cannot stay 2 metres apart.

Guidance on how to stop the spread of coronavirus should be followed in full.

Face coverings

You must wear a face covering in many indoor settings, such as shops and places of worship, and on public transport, unless you are exempt or have a reasonable excuse.