UK Lifts Restrictions: What You Can and Can’t Do Starting Today the 13th May, 2020

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The UK government has released an FAQ on the changes to social distancing rules, which will take effect tomorrow (Wednesday 13 May). Here are some highlights:

Can I get together with friends and family?

From Wednesday, people will be allowed to meet and sit down with one other person at a time from outside their household, but only outdoors and if they remain two metres apart.

Do I have to wear a mask?

Face coverings are not compulsory. However, if they can, people are advised to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces where social distancing is not possible.

How often can I exercise?

You can exercise outdoors as often as you wish – following social distancing guidelines. Sports courts can re-open, but you should only partake in such activities alone, with members of your household, or with one other person from outside your household, while practising social distancing.

How far can I travel for my outdoor activity? What about passengers?

You can travel to outdoor open spaces irrespective of distance. You can only travel in a private vehicle alone, or with members of your household.

Can I return to work?

Starting tomorrow, those employed in certain sectors who cannot work from home are advised that they “should travel to work if their workplace is open”. These sectors are: supermarkets, those in construction and manufacturing, those working in labs and research facilities, those administering takeaways and deliveries at restaurants and cafes, tradesmen, cleaners and others who work in people’s homes, those who are facilitating trade or transport of goods,etc.

The full UK Government Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

To keep track of how other governments around the world are responding, researchers from the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford have published the Coronavirus Government Response Tracker. The tracker collects information on the types of policies being implemented around the world, from school closures to contact tracing.

The team at Our World in Data has utilized this information to create a single page that tracks all the policy responses across the world. This excellent page is full of interactive charts on school, work, transport, lockdowns, testing policy & more.