WHAT CAN WE NOW DO IN ENGLAND?

From Monday the 17th of May you'll be able to enjoy pints indoors, foreign holidays and hugs with friends and family.

We've been told to take a "heavy dose of caution" because of the spread of the Indian COVID variant.

As the country moves to stage three of the prime minister's roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions today, friends and family will enjoy greater freedom to gather together.

This includes groups of up to six people indoors and gatherings of up to 30 people outdoors.

Bars, pubs and restaurants are now welcoming customers indoors, cinemas are reopening, fans returning to sporting events and holidays abroad are now allowed if your traveling to countries on England's green list.

On top of this the government is now allowing people to choose whether they want to socially distance when meeting friends and family members.

The prime minister has pushed ahead with the latest lifting of lockdown restrictions despite growing concerns over the possible impact of the so-called Indian variant.

The new variant could "spread like wildfire" among people who haven't had their COVID jabs.

Boris Johnson has claimed the presence of the Indian variant in parts of England could delay the next and final step of the roadmap which is scheduled for June 21st.

This news comes as new Government figures show that over 20 million adults in the UK are now fully vaccinated after receiving both of their jabs.

Some 391,246 people were given their second dose on Saturday (15th of May), meaning a total of 20,103,658 (38.2% of all adults) have now had two shots.

Here's what you can do from today (May 17th)

SOCIALISING

? People can meet outdoors in groups of up to 30 people

? Indoors, groups of six or a larger group of two households can meet

? Hospitality can open indoors - but diners and drinkers must remain seated

? People have the choice as to whether to socially distance with close family and friends

? People can hug those close to them but they should remain cautious as this remains a way of transmitting COVID

? Wider social distancing rules remain in place in adult social care, medical, retail, hospitality and business settings

? Thirty people can attend a support group, or parent and child group (children under five years old do not count)

? Care home residents can have up to five named visitors and greater freedoms to make low-risk visits

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

? Indoor entertainment can open, including cinemas (with unoccupied seats between parties), museums, and children's play areas

? Outdoor large performances and sporting events will have a maximum capacity of 4,000 people or must only be half full, whichever is lower

? Theatres, concert halls, conference centres and sports stadia can reopen - with capacity limits

? Large indoor performances and sporting events with a capacity of 1,000 people are allowed

? Bigger sports stadiums are allowed 10,000 people or can only be a quarter full, whichever is lower

? Testing is to be used to support these openings

? Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors

? Saunas and steam rooms can open

WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

? Weddings, receptions, and other life events can take place with up to 30 people - but no guests can dance

? Funerals can take place with the number of people safely allowed at that specific venue

HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL

? Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen fully

? Staycations can take place in groups of up to six people or two households

? Travel restrictions are lifted under a traffic light system - but people should only travel to green list countries, or amber if they really have to.

EDUCATION

? Face coverings no longer needed by secondary school and college pupils in classrooms or communal areas

? Twice-weekly home testing for pupils remains

? All remaining university students can return to in-person teaching, with twice-weekly testing