UK lockdown eases: what you can do from Monday


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

From Monday, lockdown rules will be relaxed so that pupils can return to the classroom for the first time since Christmas.

Groups of two from different households will also be able to meet up socially outdoors.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the measures last month as part of the government’s road map to take the country out of lockdown.

Take a look at what will be changing from tomorrow.

Order to stay at home remains

The government is still urging people to stay at home, but there are some reasons you can leave the house, such as:

  • going to work, if you cannot work from home
  • going to the doctors or getting medical help
  • fleeing from injury, risk of harm or domestic abuse
  • going shopping for essentials
  • meeting up with your support or childcare bubbles

Everybody must still stay in their local area, which means the village, town or part of the city in which you live.

Changes to exercise and meeting outside

As of tomorrow, people can leave home for recreation outdoors, such as a coffee or picnic with their household or support bubble, or with one other person from outside their household.

It is still illegal to meet socially indoors.

Care home residents and visitors

From Monday every care home resident in England will be able to nominate one visitor who can regularly visit.

The visitor will need to have a rapid test every time they visit, wear PPE and keep physical contact to a minimum.

Schools, universities and nurseries

All pupils and students will return to classrooms and lecture halls in schools and universities from Monday.

All secondary school pupils and university students will have to take three Covid-19 tests as they return to the classroom.

They will then be given two rapid tests to use each week at home.

Some university students on practical courses will be able to return to in-person learning.

Child care and other supervised children’s activities can resume where they enable parents to work, seek work, attend education, seek medical care or attend a support group.

Next steps to easing lockdown

The government says it will look at easing more measures in the week of March 29, when most schools will break up for Easter.

But it will be evidence-led and may be delayed if scientific data does not allow for extra easing.

If it does go ahead, people will be able to have outdoor gatherings of either six people or from two households.

Outdoor sports centres will be allowed to reopen and people can take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

The order to stay at home will end at this point, although many lockdown restrictions will remain.

How to report a beggar

Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)

Dubai – Call 800243

Sharjah – Call 065632222

Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372

Ajman – Call 067401616

Umm Al Quwain – Call 999

Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411

Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

Scorebox

Dubai Sports City Eagles 7 Bahrain 88

Eagles

Try: Penalty

Bahrain

Tries: Gibson 2, Morete 2, Bishop 2, Bell 2, Behan, Fameitau, Sanson, Roberts, Bennett, Radley

Cons: Radley 4, Whittingham 5

Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

Sam Smith

Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi

When: Saturday November 24

Rating: 4/5

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

RESULTS
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SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELong-range%20dual%20motor%20with%20400V%20battery%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E360kW%20%2F%20483bhp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E840Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20628km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.7sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20210kph%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh360%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company%20Profile
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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative