The Government’s 50-page roadmap out of lockdown, explained
Quarantine
Quarantine for people coming into the UK will be introduced from June 8, with new measures requiring the isolation of all new arrivals in the UK – including returning and repatriated Britons – for a two-week period.
All international arrivals apart from those on a shortlist of exemptions will be required to supply their contact and accommodation information, in addition to completing a number of forms prior to arrival.
It is expected that they will self-isolate for 14 days, with penalties of £1,000 for those who break this rule. They will also be strongly advised to download and use the NHS contact tracing app.
“Where international travellers are unable to demonstrate where they would self-isolate, they will be required to do so in accommodation arranged by the Government,” the document reads.
Exemptions listed include journeys within the common travel area, which covers Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
There will be also exemptions for “impede work supporting national security or critical infrastructure and to meet the UK’s international obligations”.
The Home Secretary Priti Patel said this will include road haulage and freight workers, foreign officials including French border police officers, and medical professionals who are travelling to help in the fight against coronavirus.
The document does not address suggestions that French travellers may be exempt from the quarantine after President Emmanuel Macron demanded concessions in a phone call with Mr Johnson.
It says the quarantine is necessary to “manage the risk of transmissions being reintroduced from abroad” as social contact increases.
“These international travel measures will not come into force on May 13 but will be introduced as soon as possible,” it adds. “Further details, and guidance, will be set out shortly, and the measures and list of exemptions will be kept under regular review.”
The quarantine will be run and enforced by the Border Force, police officers, and Public Health England officials, who will have the powers to visit and to perform spot checks on all those affected, and to issue fines of up to £1,000 for breaches.
Meeting family and friends
People can meet in groups of up to six people from different households as long as they sit two metres apart and remain outdoors, the Prime Minister announced on May 28.
This means you can visit a grandparent, girlfriend or boyfriend in any public or private outside space, such as a park or a private garden.
Boris Johnson stressed that people should not be inside the homes of friends or families unless it is to access the garden.
It is advised that the public should avoid seeing people from too many households in quick succession, so as to keep the infection rates down.
The new plans drawn up by the Government mean that people will be able to see their parents again, with garden parties, barbecues and other outdoor activities set to be permitted, if social distancing is observed.
This is set to be part of a wider future change that will allow people to meet in “social bubbles” of up to 10 people, so long as this is outdoors and groups practise social distancing. This follows suggestions in the 50-page road map that social bubbles could be created while limiting the risk of inter-household transmissions.
Read more: What the social distancing rules mean for visiting family and friends