What 'Stay Local' will mean over Easter in Cheshire

From March 29, certain restrictions that have been in place for almost three months will change as the 'Stay Home' message becomes 'Stay Local'.

The rules will see certain restrictions on travelling, socialising and some events lifted throughout England.

This is all set to take place at the end of month, provided the UK continues to meet the four main 'tests' set out in the Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 'roadmap' last month.

We've put together a list of what is changing and what you will be allowed, and not allowed to do in Cheshire as the rules are further relaxed in time for Easter.

Who will I be allowed to meet and where?

Currently, you are allowed to meet up with one person from another household in any outdoor public space.

Those rules were relaxed after the first phase of Step 1 came into force on March 8, along with the re-opening of all primary and secondary schools.

But rules from March 29 will see the return of the rule-of-six and more freedom to meet people - but as long as it remains outdoors.

From this date, you will be allowed to meet up to six people (or two households) in any outdoor place, including in private gardens.

The move follows on from evidence which shows it is still safer for people to meet outdoors than indoors.

You will not be able to go for a pint in a beer garden or meet friends for an al fresco meal at this point though.

Pubs, restaurants and cafes can serve customers outside from April 12.

Will I be able to travel out of my local area?

Currently the Government's 'Stay Home' message means you are not permitted to leave your home unless you have a specific reason.

They mainly include for work or education purposes, medical reasons, exercise, to care for a loved one, and to complete essential shopping.

But from March 29, this guidance will change and restrictions on why you can leave your home will no longer apply.

However, the 'Stay Local' message will mean you should continue to work from home, minimising the number of journeys made where appropriate.

Although there isn't a definitive list of how far you can travel, the Home Secretary previously said police officers would 'not hesitate' to take action against cases where people are clearly breaking the rules.

It means you are likely to be allowed to leave your local area for essential purposes, but a visit to see family and friends in another region may not be deemed appropriate for as long as 'Stay Local' applies.

What about going on holiday?

A ban on non-essential international travel will continue to apply beyond March 29, with the government expected to review when global travel will resume on April 12.

A government spokesperson said: "Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons.

"Holidays abroad will not be allowed, given it will remain important to manage the risk of imported variants and protect the vaccination programme.

"The government has launched a new taskforce to review global travel which will report on April 12."

Some sports facilities can reopen

From March 29, outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen.

People will also be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

How likely is this all to happen?

When the PM Boris Johnson announced the roadmap out of the third national lockdown, he said that easing of rules would be done in stages.

He provided the dates in which rules would be relaxed at the earliest as he said it depended on the country meeting four tests.

Those are the Covid vaccine roll-out, the vaccine's effectiveness on reducing hospitalisations and deaths, infection rates and whether they are likely to surge which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS, and emerging variants of the virus.

Currently, there has been no suggestion that the further easing of lockdown measures will not go ahead as planned.