What can and can't you do as the coronavirus lockdown rules ease across the UK?

It's a long way from life as we knew it but the lockdown measures have been easing across the UK as our “new normal” continues to evolve.

All four nations have been independently reviewing their measures every three weeks and expanding the freedoms of residents as the rate of coronavirus cases lessens.

So what can you do now in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that you couldn’t before? What are you still stopped from doing? And when might that change?

ENGLAND

Those living in England can meet one other person from another household as long as you stay outdoors.

But you can’t gather together in groups, with the exception of events like funerals.

How soon could this change in future?

The government said: “It has asked the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to advise on the concept of “bubbles”, which would mean allowing people to expand their household group to include one other household.”

You can compete at some sports but you can't make contact

Sunbathing, endless exercising, tennis, basketball and golf are all encouraged, as long as social distancing is employed and is only done with a maximum of one other person from another household.

But exercising at indoor sports centres, gyms and swimming pools remains prohibited and children’s playgrounds remain shut.

Private and ticketed attractions are also off limits. The government said restaurants, pubs and bars will only reopen “provided it is safe to do so”, and not before 4 July at the earliest.

You can send the kids to school unless they're in years 2-5 and 7-13

The government’s hope of returning primary school children in reception, Year 1 and 6 has met opposition from teachers unions and parents.

But some classes will be restarting from 1 June, while pre-school nurseries can reopen and childminders can take in children from the same household.

Students at secondary school and higher education are still waiting for a prospective return date, though the government has indicated Year 10 and Year 12 students could be first in line for renewed contact with teachers.

• Coronavirus Q&A: Your questions about schools and universities

You can buy a car but you can't drive it to Wales

You can buy a car and drive it anywhere across England, including to the beach or beauty spots which were previously off limits in lockdown.

There are no restrictions on travel - until you hit the border. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland remain blocked to residents in England as the devolved powers manage their own restriction levels.

You can buy a house but you can't visit a second home

Visiting a ’second home’ in England or a holiday apartment remains off limits.

However, prospective home owners and renters can now view properties and move.

So you can move home but - for those wealthy enough to have it - not visit your second one.

While garden centres and some hardware stores have already reopened, people in England can soon shop more widely on the high street.

From 15 June, most stores will reopen as long as they employ the recommended social distancing measures.

• The list of shops and services set to reopen on June 15 amid coronavirus
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• How can shops reopen safely as England's lockdown measures ease?

You can get measured for a suit but you can't get a tailored beard

However, some services will remain closed. So - slightly incongruously - you can now get measured for a suit, but you can’t get a haircut.

People who are able to work from home in England are being urged to continue but those who can’t are urged to return to their place of work.

Walking, cycling and driving is encouraged and anyone forced to use public transport is urged to wear face masks and keep their distance - a reality which was soon reported as impractical by returnees in busy cities.

Plane travel is currently only for essential journeys and those arriving from outside the UK will be placed in quarantine for two weeks, with exceptions from flyers from the Republic of Ireland.

Several airlines are targeting a bigger service come July.

• Ryanair confirms plan to ramp up flights from July 1

Yet at any point the easing of restrictions in England could be reversed if the so-called “local lockdown” announced by the government is enforced.

What could local lockdowns look like in England?

Flare ups of the virus could see social restrictions enforced within a still-to-be-determined range.

The government’s test, track and trace system - which Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said is set to be introduced in some form before the end of May - could bring about stricter restrictions and closures in parts of towns, schools, hospitals and businesses.

The Joint Biosecurity Centre will keep track of infection rates from data gathered from workplaces, testing centres and the wider environment and watch out for localised increases.

• How does test, track and trace work and why is it important?

The people who have had sustained recent contact with an infected person will be tracked by phone or email. A location-tracking phone app will also identify who has had contact with the infected person.

The Joint Biosecurity Centre will advise chief medical officers, who could recommend the closure of schools, businesses and workplaces within a set area.

SCOTLAND

Scotland’s road map back to normality means from the end of May those in the country can enjoy unlimited exercise - including non-contact sports - sitting and sunbathing.

Households can meet one other household if distances are maintained and it takes place outdoors, including gardens. But they can’t meet indoors until “phase two” of the road map is employed.

For now people can travel within the country but are urged to stay close to home if possible.

You can eat plenty of takeaways but you can't see a dentist for a while

Garden centres will reopen, recycling and waste services will start up again and those employed in construction and agriculture can go back to work.

Teachers have been urged to return to work in June to prepare for schools reopening in August, but with a proportion of home learning continuing.

• How do plans to reopen schools differ across the UK?

Childcare provisions are being expanded in June beyond key workers and the housing market will also reopen, though house moves remain on hold for now.

Some take-away outlets will reopen in June but shops, pubs and restaurants are still off limits. They - along with dentists - will only reopen in “phase three” as long as social distancing is carried out.

WALES

People in Wales can exercise throughout the day but must stay close to home and only do it with a member of their own household.

Eating in a park is not off limits, but lengthy picnics seem to go against the tone of the guidance issued in mid May.

Travel remains only for “necessary” journeys and people are urged to work from home when they can and can’t visit second homes.

• Coronavirus Q&A: First Minister of Wales answers your questions
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You can visit the library but you can't book a hair appointment

Garden centres, rubbish tips and libraries can be accessed though, with social distancing maintained.

The rules will be revisited on 28 May. However, the government in Wales has already ruled out schools reopening on 1 June.

Only essential shops can be accessed for now. Hairdressers remain shut in Wales, with no indication of a change in early July in line - potentially - with England.

NORTHERN IRELAND

While Northern Ireland has a five-phase plan for easing lockdown, it has not been accompanied by prospective dates. But there is an ambition to get to the end by Christmas.

Groups of four to six people who are not part of the same household can gather outdoors as long as they keep their distance. Those not shielding from the virus can also visit immediate family indoors as long as social distancing is maintained.

Northern Ireland residents can access garden centres and recycling centres but cafes and restaurants can only offer takeaway or collection.

• Has Northern Ireland made a better job of responding to coronavirus than the UK?

You can visit the drive-in cinema but concerts and theatres are off limits

Non-contact sports are allowed and drive-in cinemas are open. Marriage ceremonies are permitted for the terminally ill.

The later steps - yet to be initiated - will expand on the numbers who can meet outdoors, open non-food retail outlets, increase sports participation and reopen open-air museums.

Step three will see some pupils return, concert and theatres resume rehearsals, phased returns to offices and libraries opened.

Step four will see contact retail outlets open - once risk assessment has been completed - schools welcome back more students, leisure centre facilities reopen and businesses introduce staggered start times to get staff back in the office.

Step five returns Northern Ireland to normal pre-lockdown social and work life, albeit with social distancing restrictions maintained.

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