HAIRDRESSERS and barbers are set to re-open in mid-April as the Prime Minister eases the Covid lockdown in a four-stage roadmap.
Boris Johnson will scrap the national stay-at-home order as the Rule of Six returns late next month.
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Those desperate for a haircut have to wait at least seven weeks for salons to reopen.
They will be unlocked around April 12 to 19 along with non-essential shops, while restaurants and pubs will be able to serve customers outdoors.
The rest of restrictions will be eased in May and June with inside mixing and drinking — with the hope of normality by July, when every adult will have been offered a Covid jab first dose.
Last night the PM said: “Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step.
“We will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe.
“We have therefore set four key tests which must be met before we can move through each step of the plan. I’ll be setting out a roadmap to bring us out of lockdown cautiously.”
The Prime Minister will publish storming data today that shows the vaccine rollout has led directly to tumbling deaths and hospital cases.
His blueprint will see lockdown eased in four steps — with four key tests applied to each stage of the way to freedom.
Mr Johnson will warn that for each step to be taken, benchmark numbers will need to be met on:
- Covid cases
- Hospital admissions
- Vaccinations
- Deaths
He will reserve the right to slam the brakes on lifting lockdown if a new variant of the virus emerges.
Regional tiers have been ditched and all of England will begin the phased return to normality.
Step One will see kids return to classrooms on March 8 and “ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely” prioritised.
Three weeks later, on March 29, the “Rule of Six” will return to parks and private gardens — allowing six people from up to six different households to mix outdoors.
If just two households come together they can meet with no cap on their size.
This means families will be meeting together in parks and gardens by Easter.
