Covid-19 Update

NEWS SPECIAL

Covid easing gathers pace

EASING OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS ACROSS THE UK IS GATHERING PACE AS THE PROSPECT OF A RETURN TO SOME FORM OF NORMALITY DRAWS CLOSER

Following a series of announcements from leaders across the UK, lockdown rules are set to be eased further across much of the UK from Monday 17.

In England and Scotland, hospitality venues will be able to serve customers indoors, and social distancing will be relaxed another notch. Pubs will also be able to serve indoors in Wales.

Groups of up to 30 people can meet outdoors in England from Monday while six people or two households can meet indoors, with overnight stays allowed. Social distancing with close family and friends will be “a matter of personal judgement” although social distancing will remain in place in retail, hospitality and business settings. Face coverings will still be required in stores.

It is hoped that all legal limits on social contact will be lifted by 21 June.

Most of mainland Scotland moves to level two on Monday which allows up to six people from three households mix indoors. Social distancing will no longer be required in homes and private gardens and up to six people from three households can meet in an indoor public place. Hospitality venues can serve alcohol indoors until 10.30pm.

In Wales, hospitality venues can open indoors from Monday and up to six people from different households will be able to meet there. People who do not live together will, however, have to maintain a two-metre social distance.

In Northern Ireland, it is expected that more restrictions will be lifted from 24 May.

Brits target better work life balance when lockdown restrictions end

Nearly half of Brits want a better work life balance, and to fulfil their career aspirations as we step out of lockdown, according to a new survey of 1,000 UK adults for comparethemarket.com.

More than a third (36%) of Britons started planning their bucket list during lockdown and more than half (57%)

claim their motivation for planning the list was that “life is too short”, whilst 29% say they want to do something for themselves.

For those who planned their first bucket list in the past year, topping the list for over half (59%) was travelling and seeing more of the world.

Southern Co-op extends Snappy partnership

Southern Co-op hasextended its partnershipwith home deliveryplatform SnappyShopper followingsuccessful trials.

Home delivery isnow available from 26Southern Co-op storesand offers customersmore than 3,000products.

In a trial inPortsmouth, the twomost ordered items werea small pack of Co-opFairtrade bananas and afour pint bottle of semiskimmedmilk.

There have beennearly 10,000 ordersfrom new and returningcustomers as well as95% of reviewers givingfive stars.