UK Government reveals plans to lift lockdown
Thu 04 Mar 2021
On Monday 22nd February, the UK government announced their plans for cautiously easing England out of the current lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19. The new four stage plan sees the UK start to open up from March 8th, and the hope is that all legal restrictions in the UK will be lifted by the end of June provided that strict conditions are met at every stage. The exciting news is that the UK is slowly but surely opening up again. The UK national vaccine programme is proving extremely successful and it won’t be long now until we can welcome students back to ONCAMPUS centres, all being well.
We are pleased to confirm that from April 12th at the earliest our UK ONCAMPUS centres are planning to welcome students back for some face to face learning, where possible, in line with COVID-19 safety protocols. Please note that it is likely that some online learning will still be required for Term 3 and we will continue to follow UK government guidelines.
It has remained our priority to restore face to face teaching as soon as it is safe to do so, therefore, we are planning to offer as much face-to-face teaching from June as possible in our UK ONCAMPUS centres. We will continue to monitor government guidelines and will be updating our advice as the situation evolves. Students who are able to travel to the UK safely can arrive in their accommodation from March 8th where they will be fully supported by our staff in centre. Your current teaching remains unaffected, and we will continue to communicate further updates over the coming weeks. For the latest UK travel and quarantine advice, please visit the government website.
Here’s a breakdown of the government’s plans and what you can expect whilst living in England over the coming months:
Stage One
8th March (at the earliest)
- University students can return for practical courses only. There will be a review by mid-April for all other students. ONCAMPUS students who are able to travel to the UK safely can arrive in their accommodation from March 8th and will be fully supported by our staff in centre.
- Face coverings are recommended in class
- Two people from different households can meet outside for recreation, meaning you can meet a friend for coffee on a bench outside or for a picnic
- Stay at home where possible
29th March (at the earliest)
- People can meet outside with either one other household or within the "rule of six", including in private gardens and parks
- The stay at home rule will end but people should stay local as much as possible, giving you the chance to explore your city and do some local sightseeing
- Outdoor sport facilities can reopen, and formally organised outdoor sports can also restart. It’s a good time to join a sports club at your Student Union.
- Minimise your travel where possible
Stage 2
12th April (at the earliest)
- The government will review the return of all students to UK universities. From April 12th at the earliest our UK ONCAMPUS centres are planning to welcome students back for some face to face learning, where possible, in line with COVID-19 safety protocols.
- All non-essentials shops can reopen, alongside personal care businesses such as hairdressers
- Libraries and community centres can reopen
- Gyms and indoor sports and leisure centres can reopen – time to get fit!
- Outdoor hospitality can reopen, including cafes, bars and restaurants with outdoor seating
- Domestic overnight stays with your household permitted
Stage 3
17th May (at the earliest)
- People can meet inside with either two other households or within the "rule of six"
- Gatherings of 30 people outdoors allowed
- Indoor hospitality can reopen including cafes, bars and restaurants – a good time to try out some new food spots in your area
- Indoor entertainment and leisure can reopen
- International travel will be reviewed
- Outdoor and indoor seated events permitted
Stage 4
21st June (at the earliest)
- No limits on social contact
- Remaining businesses can reopen
- Overnight stays permitted
We will continue to monitor government guidelines and will be updating our advice as the situation evolves. All of our key updates can be found on our COVID-19 information pages. For the latest UK travel and quarantine advice, please visit the government website.
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