How lockdown lifting delay will affect your plans for holidays, nights out and weddings
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OUR 'Freedom Day' has been postponed, despite the UK's incredible Covid jab programme, and the many sacrifices made by Brits.
The Sun looks at how the coronavirus lockdown lifting delay will affect your plans for holidays, nights out and weddings...
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The long-awaited lockdown lift of June 21 has been delayed - dashing hopes of a speedy return to normality for Brits.
After months of Covid restrictions, thousands will be forced to wait for a little longer after a last-minute U-turn.
Boris Johnson yesterday revealed that the June 21 "Freedom Day" would be pushed back by four weeks.
With cases of the India-Delta variant surging, health chiefs and politicians are "concerned" by the spread of the mutation, he explained.
For now, limits on numbers for sports events, theatres and cinemas will remain in place, nightclubs will stay shuttered and people will be asked to continue working from home where possible.
WEDDINGS
Weddings have either been postponed or reduced since the start of the Covid pandemic.
Under Boris Johnson's roadmap, up to 30 people were able to attend weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.
However, that has now changed.
Traditional big white weddings will FINALLY make a return on June 21, Mr Johnson has announced.
But while the strict limit of 30 guests will lift at long last, a ban on dancing will remain - and face masks have to stay on indoors.
Venues will be allowed to choose their own restrictions, with social distancing still a factor.
But it's tough news for wedding DJs - as a spin around the dancefloor is still banned indoors, and advised against outdoors, with the exception of the bride and groom.
Communal singing will also be barred as it aids transmission of the virus - meaning hymns are out.
Choirs, bands, or musicians may perform in a group of up to six indoors, or up to 30 outdoors.
However, couples won't have to face torturous decisions over which family members can attend, as rather than imposing tough limits, venues will be allowed to make their own decisions about how many people are on the invite list.
Weddings on private land, including in gardens, will also have caps lifted, with the Government trusting the newly-weds to make decisions on safety.
And health chiefs say masks should be worn indoors while moving around - while wedding buffets are out, with table service recommended instead.
Guests who don't cover their faces could face a £200 fine.
There must also be no more than six guests at a table to keep the Rule of Six in place.
And speeches should take place outside or in well-ventilated areas wherever possible.
HOLIDAYS
The government has delayed the end of lockdown until July 19 in England, so this will hit holiday plans too.
For holidaymakers, that means no big group holidays for the next month at least, with fears that the delay could even be extended into August.
The 21st of this month was supposed to be Freedom Day, which included the final unlocking of the travel industry in England and an end to limits on social distancing.
Currently, it is legal to stay overnight in the same property as up to six people from different households or an unlimited number of people from two households.
But the cap was set to be removed, with no limits on the number of people sharing a holiday home together or staying overnight in someone's house.
The current limit is set to stay until July 19 now though, with the government reassessing the Covid data again by the middle of next month.
The government's hope is that the proposed month-long extension will get 10 million second jabs into arms, extending maximum protection to 75 per cent of Brits.
The Prime Minister did concede to a "two-week break clause", meaning the lifting of restrictions could go ahead on July 5 if hospitalisations don't significantly rise.
He said: "I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer. We will hold off until July 19."
"I am confident we won't need more than four weeks - it's unmistakable clear that the vaccines are working - but now is the time to ease off the accelerator.
"We have the chance to save many thousands of lives by vaccinating millions more people."
The delay only applies to England, as Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have different Covid regulations.
In Wales, people can stay overnight with their extended household - which can be up to three households.
In Scotland six people from up to three households can stay overnight together.
And in Northern Ireland, up to six people from two households can stay overnight together.
Monday's delayed roadmap date doesn't make any difference to foreign holidays, with the traffic light system for international travel approved separately.
Another update is expected for the UK's green list on June 21, but there isn't much change expected.
THEATRES AND CINEMAS
Leisure facilities such as cinemas, bingo halls, and theatres were given the green light to reopen from May 17.
Theatres and cinemas will continue to be restricted to just 50 per cent capacity.
Singer Frank Turner, who has raised money for struggling small music venues, said the delay would "tip some businesses into final collapse".
Theatre producer Sonia Friedman warned "many livelihoods are under existential threat".
Rules on social distancing, working from home and wearing masks are also set to continue after June 21, with Step 4 of the government's roadmap out of lockdown delayed.
Strip clubs will also stay shut, while there'll be a cap on larger events, like football matches.
Outdoor and indoor events
It's been a long wait but some larger events have finally kickstarted again.
Indoor events such as gigs have a capacity limit of 1,000, or 50 per cent - whichever is the smaller number.
Meanwhile, outdoor events are able to welcome up 4,000 or 50 per cent capacity.
But oudoor events which are seated, such as football matches, are capped at 10,000 or 25 per cent.
The Wimbledon finals will be contested in front of capacity crowds and Wembley will be allowed to host 40,000 fans for its final four Euro 2020 fixtures as the pilots on attendance of large events continue.
NIGHTCLUBS
Nightclubs will not reopen on June 21 - venues were expected to reopen next Monday, bouncing back after 15 months of Covid closures.
Downing Street left open the option of ending restrictions on July 5 if the data proves drastically better than expected but conceded this is "unlikely"
It comes days after nightclub owners last week vowed to welcome back party-goers regardless of government rules.
Taking legal action
It comes days after nightclub owners last week vowed to welcome back party-goers regardless of government rules.
Meanwhile, others have said they are prepared to take legal action.
A spokesman said any "further extension of lockdown will see a huge swathe of our industry just go to the wall".
"It beggars belief that we are in this position 15 months on," added Michael Kill, CEO of the Nighttime Industries Association (NTIA).
He told the sector was “getting to breaking point” and that the possibility of further delay has left operators feeling "panic and anxiety".
Mr Kill warned many night time businesses affected by the delays to reopening, from live music venues to bars, are barely breaking even.
In April Brits flocked to the dancefloor in nightclub trials - as part of tests to get the country back up and running out of lockdown.
Ministers fear reopening nightclubs will fuel the spread of Covid-19, in particular, the Delta variant which is threatening reopening plans.
PUBS
Punters are back in beer gardens and outdoor dining areas at cafes and restaurants, enjoying pints, coffees and food alike.
Table service must continue in pubs and at restaurants.
A sombre PM said: "I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer.
"We will hold off until July 19.
"I am confident we won't need more than four weeks - it's unmistakable clear that the vaccines are working - but now is the time to ease off the accelerator."
Previously restrictions were eased on April 12 when pubs opened for outdoor drinking and non-essential shops opened their doors again.
From May 17 Brits have been allowed to eat and drink inside pubs and restaurants, with rules also relaxed on how many people can meet up outside.
What businesses reopened on May 17?
- Pubs (indoor serving)
- Restaurants (indoor serving)
- Steam rooms
- Saunas
- Cinemas
- Bingo halls
- Bowling alleys
- Big events (with capacity limits)
- Sports stadiums (with capacity limits)
Businesses that rely on an indoor setting have been allowed to open their doors to customers again from May 17.
This includes pubs and restaurants, both of which are now allowed dine-in customers.
CARE HOMES
Care home residents returning from hospital will no longer need to isolate for 14 days.
But, face masks and social distancing will continue for now.
Care home residents will be permitted to stay overnight with friends and family from Monday without needing to quarantine for 14 days on return to their residences.
From May 17, every care home resident was able to nominate up to five named visitors able to enter the care home for regular visits.
But, named named visitors had to carry out rapid lateral flow Covid tests - which must be negative - before seeing loved ones.
In May, embattled Matt Hancock squirmed as he was grilled about Dominic Cummings' explosive claim that he let Covid into care homes.
The beleaguered Health Secretary admitted there were not enough tests to swab every vulnerable resident returning from hospital in the first wave.
Some 42,511 care home residents have now had coronavirus recorded on their death certificate.
Mr Johnson said during a Downing Street press conference that it is "sensible to wait just a little longer" as he put back the end of all legal limits on social contact by a month.
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The PM said he was "confident" no further delay will be necessary but was unable to rule that out, in case an unforeseen and "far more dangerous" variant could emerge.
He hopes deaths will be significantly reduced by July 19 because it is expected two-thirds of adults will have been offered both vaccine doses by then.