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Last reviewed on 29 March
Here are some answers to questions you may have about the government's four-step plan to ease lockdown restrictions, which began on 8 March.
Otherwise, we await the next step of the government's roadmap (12 April) meaning:
Read the full roadmap on the government website.
The full list of businesses required to close until 12 April can be found in the government's guidance on closing certain businesses and venues in England, but includes:
The full list of businesses that could stay open during lockdown can be found in the government's guidance on closing certain businesses and venues in England, but includes:
No, playgrounds remain open – families using the facilities should follow the guidance, including keeping distance from others outside of your own household and making sure to wash hands after using the equipment.
Stay two metres apart from anyone not in your household.
People should only come inside your home for specific purposes:
As of 29 March, the stay at home rule has ended but people should stay local as much as possible – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall. You should also work from home where possible.
There continue to be restrictions on international travel. Holidays are not a permitted reason to travel. Those seeking to leave the UK must complete an outbound declaration of travel form ahead of departure.
Reasons to leave your home and area include, but are not limited to:
You should follow all relevant transport guidance when making a journey on public transport. Try to plan your journey to avoid peak times wherever possible.
You must wear a face covering on public transport, taxis and private hire vehicles and in substantially enclosed areas of transport hubs in England (as well as other indoor premises).
You will be breaking the law if you fail to do so and could be fined. Some people do not have to wear a face covering including for age, health or disability reasons.
You cannot leave your home or the place where you are living for holidays or overnight stays unless you have a reasonable excuse for doing so. This means that holidays in the UK and abroad are not allowed.
This includes staying in a second home or caravan, if that is not your primary residence. This also includes staying with anyone who you don’t live with unless they’re in your support bubble.
You are allowed to stay overnight away from your home if you:
The next step of the government's roadmap (12 April) will allow UK overnight stays away from home, in self-contained accommodation.
As of 29 March, you are allowed to meet outside, either with one other household or within the 'rule of six', including in parks and private gardens. Outdoor sport facilities have also reopened.
You should continue to work from home unless you cannot reasonably do so.
Where people cannot work from home – for example, infrastructure, construction or manufacturing – they should continue to travel to their workplace.
Public sector employees working in essential services, including education settings, should continue to go into work where necessary.
The risk of transmission can be substantially reduced if Covid-secure guidelines are followed closely. Extra consideration should be given to those people at higher risk.
The rules on visiting care homes changed on 8 March to allow regular indoor visits for a single named visitor.
Visits to care homes can take place with arrangements such as substantial screens, visiting pods, or behind windows. No visits will be permitted in the event of an outbreak.
You should check the government guidance on visiting care homes during COVID-19 to find out how visits should be conducted. Residents cannot meet people indoors on a visit out (for example, to visit their relatives in the family home).
Hospitality venues cannot operate as a bar or restaurant; however, they can provide food and non-alcoholic drinks for takeaway (until 11pm), click-and-collect and drive-through. All food and drink (including alcohol) can continue to be provided by delivery.
In the next stage of the government's roadmap (12 April), restaurants and pub gardens will be allowed to serve customers sitting outdoors, including alcohol.
Support groups such as therapy groups (not to be confused with a support bubble) can continue to meet but are limited to 15 people in attendance.
As of 29 March, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies can be attended by up to six people in any circumstances, but must take place in COVID-19 secure venues or in public outdoor spaces.
Social distancing should be maintained between people who do not live together or share a support bubble.
Up to 20 people can attend a funeral within St Helens Crematorium chapel.
A maximum of 30 people are permitted to attend grave-side burial services, observing social distancing.
Interment of cremated remains or appointment to scatter cremated remains, and headstone ceremonies is now set at a maximum of 6 people.
Anyone working at these ceremonies or events are not included as part of the person limit.
A free webcasting service is available for ceremonies at St Helens Crematorium. Ask your funeral director for more details.
You can attend places of worship for a service. However, you must not mingle with anyone outside of your household or support bubble. You should maintain strict social distancing at all times.
You should follow the national guidance on the safe use of places of worship.
Yes, but only until 11pm. However, premises can open after this time for drive-through or delivery if you place an order by phone or online.
As of 29 March, outdoor sport facilities such as tennis and basketball courts have reopened, while formally organised outdoor sports can also restart. Indoor gyms and sports facilities remain closed.
Gyms and leisure centres are closed.
Go Active – the council’s health and fitness provider – is again offering online activity programmes via Zoom and Facebook Live, featuring classes such as yoga, inferno and Pilates – just search 'GoActiveSTH' on Facebook.
Free workouts, suitable for all ages and abilities, are also available for residents to do from the comfort of their own home through St Helens Sports Development’s social media.
Go Active members who pay via a monthly direct debit can be assured that payments will be automatically frozen. Annual memberships will also be extended to reflect the time lost due to closure.
If you live in England, you cannot travel overseas or within the UK, unless for work, education or other legally permitted reasons.
Overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences are not allowed - including holidays in the UK and abroad.
This includes staying in a second home or caravan, if you own one, or staying with anyone from outside your household/support bubble.
You can still move home. People outside your household or support bubble should not help with moving house unless absolutely necessary.
Estate and letting agents and removals firms can continue to work and people looking to move home can continue to undertake viewings.
Follow the national guidance on moving home safely, which includes advice on social distancing and wearing a face covering.
If you are clinically vulnerable, you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. There is additional government advice for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.
Shielding is being paused nationally from 1 April. Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should not attend work, school, college or university until 31 March, and limit the time you spend outside the home. You should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential.
We are reminding residents that support is available through #StHelensTogether.
There is an online service that clinically extremely vulnerable people can use to register for support. Support is available in accessing priority supermarket delivery slots, and other forms of supermarket deliveries, in collecting and delivering medication and for those who need support to manage their wellbeing and mental health.
If you are clinically extremely vulnerable and you need to register your needs by telephone, or you have an urgent need, the St Helens Together helpline number 01744 676767 remains in operation 7 days a week from 8am – 10pm, or email contactcares@sthelens.gov.uk.