BREAKING: Coronavirus limits on social contact to end in June - with beer gardens reopening in April, says the Prime Minister.

The new four-step plan to ease lockdown could see all legal limits on social contact lifted by 21st June.

Up to six people from separate households could be able to meet in beer gardens from that date.

'The Scotch Egg debate will be over' said the PM.

Shops, hairdressers, gyms and outdoor hospitality will reopen on 12th April in England - if strict conditions are met, under plans being set out by the PM.

It requires four tests on vaccines, infection rates and new coronavirus variants to be met at each stage.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs the plan aimed to be "cautious but irreversible" and at every stage, decisions would be led by "data not dates".

A breakdown of the PMs plans:

March 8th

All schools return

Allowed to meet outside with one other outside your household for outdoor recreation

England care homes can have one named regular visitor provided testing and PPE

Amend regulation for COVID-secure campaign activities for May elections

March 29th

Outdoor gathering of six people or two households

Outdoor sports areas can open

Organised adult and children's sports return subject to guidance

Travel outside the local area allowed

Not legally required to stay at home but work from home where can

12th April

Non-essential retail, hairdressers, nail salons, gyms and outdoor areas in hospitality venues (such as beer gardens) set to reopen - along with libraries, museums, zoos and theme parks.

Self-contained accommodation will reopen, but people will only be able to stay with members of their household.

17th May

Pubs, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, B&Bs and children's play areas set to open their doors once more, with fans allowed back into sporting events. Most rules on social contact outdoors will be lifted, while mixing of different households will be allowed indoors. Up to 30 people will be allowed at weddings, funerals, wakes, receptions and christenings.

May 17th

Rule of six outdoors abolished

Pubs, bars and restaurants to reopen

Two households can mix indoors – with the rule of six applied in hospitality settings like pubs

Cinemas, hotels, performances and sporting events reopen – though social distancing remains

Up to 10,000 spectators can attend the very largest outdoor seated venues like football stadiums

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions, funerals and wakes.

June 21st

Remove limits of social contact and weddings

Night clubs open

Theatre performances open

July

Life broadly back to normality

International travel is expected to return at some point this summer, with more details expected by April 12.

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