You’ll be able to meet friends and family for a barbecue from Monday

Next week will see yet more lockdown restrictions eased in England, and it’s good news for meeting friends and family over Easter.

From next Monday, March 29th, certain social restrictions will be relaxed, including limits on gatherings and outdoor sports.

This follows on from stage one of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, which saw schools reopen on March 8th, and people allowed to meet one other person outdoors.

March 29th will see the second part of stage one come into force, under which friends and families will be able to meet outdoors using the rule of six.

You’ll be able to meet up in limited numbers outdoors, which includes private gardens, as it’s harder for the virus to spread in these settings.

You can either meet up with a group of up to six people from different households, or alternatively people from just two different households will be able to meet in a larger group.

This will be allowed in all outdoor settings, although the government still warns people should follow social distancing guidance – especially those who haven’t been vaccinated.

This means you’ll be able to enjoy a barbecue over the Easter weekend if the weather is nice, which it looks like it will be – this year the Easter bank holiday is from April 2nd-5th.

The government’s ‘stay at home’ guidance will also be replaced by the advice to ‘stay local’ – although it’s unclear what ‘local’ means specifically and how far people can travel.

Outdoor sports facilities like golf courses and tennis courts will be able to reopen, while organised outdoor sports like football can begin again for adults and children.

Find more details of the measures being lifted on March 29th here.