Submitted by simon.hyde on

COVID-19: What can you do from 17 May

Boris Johnson has revealed which COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted on 17 May in England.

  • 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
  • Indoor entertainment can open, including cinemas, museums, and children's play areas
  • 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 will be allowed
  • Outdoor large performances and sporting events will have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people or must only be half full, whichever is lower

  • Bigger sports stadiums will be allowed 10,000 people or can only be a quarter full, whichever is lower
  • Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors
  • Saunas and steam rooms can open
  • Travel restrictions are lifted - but people should only travel to green list countries, or amber if they really have to
  • Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen fully
  • Staycations can take place in groups of up to six people or two households
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.