Under new rules from July 1, it will be possible to be one metre away from someone outside your household, instead of two metres, as long as there is another mitigating factor in place, such as a face-covering or shield. Face masks are now compulsory on public transport and in hospitals across England – but new rules will make them more important than ever from next month.
The Government has announced that all pubs, restaurants, hotels, hairdressers and more will reopen on July 4. In line with these measures, the Prime Minister has set out new safety precautions that will have to take to prevent a second outbreak.
Firstly, a new “one-metre-plus” concept will be phased in from July 4, where the two-metre rule cannot be met. This means it is now possible to be one metre away from someone outside your household – Pubs and restaurants in England will be allowed to reopen both outdoors and indoors in what the government calls a “Covid-secure way” with more hand-washing, ventilation and table service indoors, rather than customers standing at a shared bar.
Visitors will not be asked to wear face-coverings – though they could be asked to wear them at the bar. You can find a range of PPE equipment available here.