What you can and can’t do as Preston and Lancashire enter the next phase of lockdown easing

Social distancing signs in Preston city centre Pic: cockerhoop

The nation has entered the next phase of getting back to normality today (Monday 12 April).

More of the restrictions have been relaxed meaning non-essential shops and outdoor areas have now been allowed to open.

We have compiled a list of what you can and can’t do now.

The latest Covid-19 data in your area can be seen below

What you can do:

Non-essential retail, such as clothes shops, camera and electronics shops, can reopen
Personal care services such as hairdressers, nail salons, tattoo and piercing studios, including mobile services can reopen
Public libraries can reopen
Community centres can reopen
Outdoor hospitality can reopen for outdoor table service only
Zoos and theme parks can reopen
Drive in performances and cinemas can start
Small events such as fetes, literary fairs and fairgrounds can go ahead
Indoor leisure and sports facilities can open for individual exercise or support bubble exercise
All childcare and supervised activities are allowed indoors for all children
Parent and child groups can take place indoors for up to 15 people
Weddings, civil partnerships, wakes and other commemorative events can take place for up to 15 people
Wedding receptions can also take place outdoors (not including private gardens) for up to 15 people
Self-contained accommodation can open in England for household groups or support bubbles
Care home residents will be able to nominate two individuals for regular indoor visits
Continue to work from home
Keep travel minimal
Support groups can continue if organised by a business, charity or public body

What you can’t do

Go inside a pub or restaurant
Go inside other peoples houses
No meeting more than six people or two households in a public space or in a garden
No social gatherings with work colleagues

The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. You can be given a fixed penalty notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400.

You can be fined £800 if you go to a private indoor gathering such as a house party of over 15 people from outside your household, which will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of £6,400.

If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can fine you £10,000.