Outdoor socialising is back this month, and here’s a quick clarifier on the rules.
England’s roadmap out of lockdown has provided plenty of hope for a return to normality in the coming months, and the first significant step arrives on Monday, March 29 with the return of outdoor socialising. Though we’ve been permitted to meet up with one person from outside our household in a social setting since March 8, from Monday we’ll be allowed to meet as two households or a group of six people (in a return for the Rule of Six), so long as these meetings take place outdoors. At last!
The lifting of these restrictions form Step 1 of the government’s four-step roadmap out of lockdown and allow us to reunite with friends and family ahead of the Easter bank holiday. These six-people/two-household gatherings can take place in public parks and outdoor spaces, or in private gardens, but we’re still being told not to meet up indoors (that will follow in Step 3, no earlier than May 17).
The outdoor socialising rule isn’t the only one being eased on March 29, as outdoor sport is also permitted to resume on this date. That means tennis courts, football pitches, basketball courts and more can reopen today. This will also allow formally-organised grassroots sport (i.e. your local football team) to resume playing.