Getting recreation and leisure up and running again.

So it seems requirements of no more mandatory masks/distancing will be needed if Nightclubs are to reopen on 21st June (it's not going to work otherwise). Very welcome news indeed if it comes off (likewise for theatres, although I assume many will reopen with distancing/mandatory masks initially in order to gear up for a bigger reopening).

Nica Burns and Sam Tutty were just on the ITV news and both sounded really positive.

Any chance we can keep social distancing (ie stay away) for those people unable to sit in a theatre or cinema for more than 2hrs without using a phone or talking so we can all enjoy the performance and film in peace?

April 12th! I'm just coming up to a year (on 28th Feb) since my last haircut... 

Me too, I'm booked for the evening on the 19th. I did wonder if they had put the additional seats on sale yet as the concert was socially distanced.

Museums seems to be in step 3, May 17th at the earliest . See below from gov website:

Step 3 will take place no earlier than 17 May, and at least five weeks after Step 2,
following a further review of the data and the four tests. Again, the Government will
announce one week in advance whether restrictions will be eased as planned.

120. In Step 3, all but the most high-risk sectors will be able to reopen. In all sectors,
COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and premises must not cater for groups
larger than the legal limits. Sectors which will reopen include:

a. Indoor hospitality, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served
alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. The requirement to order, eat and drink
while seated (‘table service’) will remain;
b. Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas;
c. Indoor entertainment, such as museums, cinemas and children’s play areas;
d. Remaining accommodation, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs;
e. Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes; and
f. Some large events, including conferences, theatre and concert
performances and sports events. Controlled indoor events of up to 1,000
people or 50% of a venue’s capacity, whichever is lower, will be permitted, as will
outdoor events with a capacity of either 50% or 4,000 people, whichever is lower.
The Government will also make a special provision for large, outdoor, seated
venues where crowds can be safely distributed, allowing up to 10,000 people or
25% of total seated capacity, whichever is lower. In addition, pilots will run as part
of the Events Research Programme to examine how such events can take place
without the need for social distancing using other mitigations such as testing.

Lets hope everyone follows the appropriate rules while the roadmap goes through the stages so that it can all come to fruition on the dates laid out.

I think it will be incredibly tricky to navigate, where businesses open but a lot of people will be cautious about going out, and rightly so. We really can't say anything until April when there will be enough data to see a trend.

The vaccinations have been a success and it has been a magnanimous feat by scientists to get a vaccine rolling so quickly, with the NHS and the Army getting vaccine into arms - this is key for us to have our precious freedom back.

Reopening of theatres will be a success.

I'm not getting too optimistic just yet - I work in a school, and we're expected to be reopening to all students (we haven't been closed as we have key worker/vulnerable students in) on the 8th. It'll almost certainly have to be a staggered start based on the fact children are not allowed to return to the classroom until they return a negative test - we do not have the capacity to test more than one year group per day. I think if data shows schools are not spreading it hugely, then I think I'll feel a little bit more optimistic.

At the moment we only know the vaccination rollout has been a success. We have no idea of the data on two doses, effectiveness long term etc. I hope everything turns out fir the best, but until we have that, colour me cautious.

The head of the NHS has said that increased capacity and vaccine availability will mean they can keep administering first doses at the same rate while rolling out the second doses too. There's no reason to doubt that. If anything, the evidence points to the Government targets around vaccine rollout being designed to under-promise and over-deliver and the efficacy stats of the vaccines in preventing infection, transmission and severe disease after just one dose are fantastic. The fact that the UK has delivered more jabs in arms than the entire EU 27 combined is a phenomenal achievement for all concerned. Boris ignoring the headbangers on his backbenches and coming up with a sensible, pragmatic route out of lockdown suggests he's belatedly got the balance right and is following scientific advice. If people want to remain cautious come the summer that's entirely their prerogative but sooner or later it has to come down to a matter of personal choice rather than legal directive. 

I think there is still work going on regarding masks and social distancing, so that will be confirmed nearer the time. The other issue with theatres, particularly in London is their reliance on overseas tourism to fill seats. This year there isn't going to be much and I doubt whether domestic audiences will fill each performance.
There is still some way to go here, but optimistic that at least we have a way out of this.

A summary of key dates etc from whatsonstage:


www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/theatres-reopen-summer-stage-musical-west-end_53429.html


www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/drive-in-performances-opening-april_53428.html

www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/government-events-research-programme-pilot_53427.html