COVID-19: Cautious easing on 18 November
The Health Minister has approved the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer, which include cautious relaxations of the current restrictions on gatherings. The changes will come into effect on 18 November.
See the announcement on the website of the Cabinet Office.
The Health Minister has agreed to the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer, which include cautious relaxations of the current restrictions on gatherings. The changes will take effect on 18 November. The main changes are that sports, youth and leisure activities for children in nurseries and primary schools will be permitted again. In secondary schools, the limit on group sizes will be increased to 25. Various service activities that require physical contact or close proximity will be able to resume. General crowd limits will remain at 10 people. It is expected that the gathering restrictions can be eased further in early December.
In a memorandum to the minister, the Director of Public Health proposes that all relaxations can be implemented in the near future. The changes, which take effect on Wednesday, 18 November, are as follows:
- Activities and services that require contact between people will be permitted on the condition that face masks are used. This applies to, for example, hairdressers, massage parlours, driving and flying lessons, and similar activities. The maximum number of customers at any one time is 10.
- Training, sports activities, and youth and leisure activities for children of preschool and primary school age will be permitted both indoors and outdoors. No restrictions are placed on mixing between groups for such activities to take place. Capacity limits for each room are in accordance with the regulation on restrictions for school activities. A maximum of 50 children from nursery to 4th grade may be in one group, while a maximum of 25 pupils from 5th to 10th grade may be in one group.
- In secondary school settings, the maximum number of pupils and staff per room is 25, instead of 10, before face masks must be worn if it is not possible to maintain a 2-metre distance.
- An exemption from the requirement to wear a face covering is granted to those who are unable to do so, for example for health reasons or if a person lacks the developmental or cognitive capacity to wear one. Those who have had COVID-19 are also exempt from the requirement, provided they can show valid proof of this.
The accompanying regulations on restrictions on gatherings and school activities due to the pandemic, which come into force on 18 November, have been sent for publication in the Government Gazette. They will remain in force until 1 December.