Roadmap Step Three - What Can We Now Do In England?

People across England are again able to enjoy hugs with loved ones, indoor pints and foreign holidays form today (Monday).

But Boris Johnson has urged a "heavy dose of caution" due to the threat of the Indian variant of COVID.

As the country moves to stage three of the prime minister's roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions today, friends and family will enjoy greater freedom to gather together.

This includes being able to meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 and gathering indoors in groups of up to six, or as two households.

Pubs and restaurants are also once again able to serve customers indoors, while cinemas can reopen, fans can return to sports stadiums, and the ban on foreign holidays is lifted with people allowed to travel to a limited number of countries on the "green" list.

In addition, the government is now allowing people to choose whether to socially distance with family and friends when they meet up - although ministers have urged people to think carefully about the risks of hugging.

The prime minister has pushed ahead with the latest lifting of lockdown restrictions despite growing concerns over the possible impact of the so-called Indian variant.

Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that it could "spread like wildfire" among those who have not had COVID jabs.

And Mr Johnson has admitted the variant's presence in parts of the country could yet delay England's move to the fourth and final stage of his roadmap - scheduled for 21 June.

It comes as Government figures show more than 20 million adults in the UK are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after receiving both jabs.

Some 391,246 people were given their second dose on Saturday, meaning a total of 20,103,658 (38.2% of all adults) have now had two shots.

From today (May 17), these are the new rules:

SOCIALISING

• People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people

• Indoors, groups of six or a larger group of two households can meet

• Hospitality can open indoors - but diners and drinkers must remain seated

• People have the choice as to whether to socially distance with close family and friends

• People can hug those close to them but they should remain cautious as this remains a way of transmitting COVID

• Wider social distancing rules remain in place in adult social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings

• Thirty people can attend a support group, or parent and child group (children under five years old do not count)

• Care home residents can have up to five named visitors and greater freedoms to make low-risk visits

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Indoor entertainment can open, including cinemas (with unoccupied seats between parties), museums, and children's play areas

• Outdoor large performances and sporting events will have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people or must only be half full, whichever is lower

• Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadia can reopen - with capacity limits

• Large indoor performances and sporting events with a capacity of 1,000 people are allowed

• Bigger sports stadiums are allowed 10,000 people or can only be a quarter full, whichever is lower

• Testing is to be used to support these openings

• Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors

• Saunas and steam rooms can open

WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

• Weddings, receptions, and other life events can take place with up to 30 people - but no guests can dance

• Funerals can take place with the number of people safely allowed at that specific venue

EDUCATION

• Face coverings no longer needed by secondary school and college pupils in classrooms or communal areas

• Twice-weekly home testing for pupils remains

• All remaining university students can return to in-person teaching, with twice-weekly testing

HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL

• Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen fully

• Staycations can take place in groups of up to six people or two households

• Travel restrictions are lifted under a traffic light system - but people should only travel to green list countries, or amber if they really have to.