On Monday (June 15), several big changes will take place in London and across the UK.
While the lockdown will be eased significantly in some respects, it will be tightened in others.
Some of the changes will affect us all immediately, while others may take longer to resolve.
A new rule will become mandatory, you will have no choice if you don’t want to face the consequences.
Whether you agree with these changes or not, continue to act sensibly – keep clean and social distance to save lives.
With that in mind, here are the five big changes we’ll see in London on Monday:
1. Face masks will become mandatory in public transport
As of Monday, it is mandatory to wear face protection in public transport throughout the country.
You should only use the subway, train or bus for essential journeys, but if you need to travel, make sure you always have your mask on.
Failure to do so will result in you being banned from public transport or fined.
The rule has been introduced to protect you and other passengers by reducing the spread of Covid-19.
Your mask doesn’t have to be state-of-the-art—you can even make it yourself. Just make sure it fits properly so it does its job.
2. Many non-essential shops will reopen
Many non-essential stores will be allowed to welcome members of the public into their facilities again.
This follows months of closures since the nation went into lockdown – during which time some businesses will have feared never to reopen again.
It was only a few days ago that London Zoo sent a desperate plea to the government to allow them to reopen. The company found itself in crisis as it did not qualify for bank or government loans, left with costs in the region of £1 million a month for animal care alone.
Thankfully, it was announced that zoos and safari parks can reopen on Monday, along with many other shops.
Here are all the retailers that can reopen on June 15:
- Grocers
- Pharmacy
- Hardware/household stores
- Fashion stores
- Charity shops
- Betting shops and gambling halls
- Tailors, dress fitters and fashion designers
- Car dealer
- Auction house
- Antique shops
- Retail art galleries
- Photo studios
- Gift shops and retail spaces in theatres, museums, libraries, heritage and tourist sites
- Mobile phone stores
- Indoor and outdoor markets
- Craft fairs
- Zoos
- Safari parks
- Betting shops
- Outdoor cinemas
- Places of Worship (Individual Prayer Only)
3. But many companies won’t
Unfortunately for others, it could still be a long wait until they can serve customers properly, with pubs and restaurants among the last places to reopen when the lockdown is eased.
Here are all the retailers that will not open on June 15:
- Restaurants, bars and pubs
- Cafes and canteens
- Hairdressers, hairdressers, beauty and nail salons
- Piercing and tattoo parlors
- Holiday accommodation including hotels, hostels, B&Bs, holiday rentals, campsites and guesthouses
- Caravan parks/sites for commercial use
- Library
- Community centers
- Museums and galleries
- Night clubs
- Cinemas, theaters and concert halls
- Bingo halls
- Spa and massage parlors
- Skating rinks
- Indoor fitness studios, gyms, swimming pools or other indoor leisure centers
- Indoor arcades, bowling alleys, soft play centers and similar facilities
- amusement park
- Playgrounds, outdoor gyms and outdoor pools
4. A review of the two meter social distancing rule will begin
On Monday, the Prime Minister will begin a review of the two-metre social distancing rule, The Mail on Sunday has revealed.
The review has been commissioned by businesses and some MPs are concerned that the hospitality industry will not be able to reopen with the rule in place. Companies in the tourism industry have expressed similar concerns.
Currently, the rule in the UK is stricter than the World Health Organization recommendation, which is to distance yourself at least one meter from each other.
But the British government’s scientific advisers say reducing the distance to one meter means up to 10 times the risk.
The aim is for the review to be completed by July 4 – the earliest date pubs and restaurants will be allowed to reopen.
5. Patients at Croydon Hospital will be allowed one visitor
For almost three months, visitors have been banned from the hospital due to the coronavirus pandemic.
No visitors have been allowed in adult wards, while limited visitors have been allowed in maternity and children’s wards.
But from Monday, restrictions on who can visit loved ones in hospital will gradually be eased at Croydon University Hospital.
Patients will be able to have one visitor a day, but this must be the same person throughout the patient’s stay.
As for other hospitals, government guidance currently says that visits will be subject to individual trusts and other NHS bodies.
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