Pubs and restaurants will initially be exempt from vaccine or test passports that will be required for people attending theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, sports matches and music festivals to show they are likely to be Covid-free.
However, government sources indicated ministers had not ruled out extending it to the hospitality sector later in the Summer, despite serious concerns within the industry that it could stifle any revival.
A source said: “We haven’t ruled it out for pubs but anything we do on hospitality has to be in consultation with the industry. We will get all the data towards the end of May and we will see if it could play a role this Summer.”
Pub bosses welcomed the return of the public, but are opposed to a passport scheme, and stressed that the industrys Covid-secure measures will be enough to keep venues safe.
Tim Martin, the chairman of Wetherspoons, said that even if case numbers rise sharply, Mr Johnson should commit to only returning hospitality restrictions to that of last summer.
If infections rise after mid-June, the Government should revert to the July 2020 social distancing rules as a backstop – not to lockdowns. Then hospitality can plan and invest, with an element of certainty, he told The Telegraph.
From April 12, all shops will open again, alongside other personal care services like beauty salons and nail bars, and Britons will be allowed to visit self-contained holiday accommodation, like cottages.
Outdoor attractions like zoos and theme parks will resume in time for the summer season, and libraries and community centres will also reopen.
The maximum number of people allowed at weddings and wakes will also be expanded to 15.
Although pubs, cafes and restaurants will reopen, customers will only be allowed to sit outdoors.
The rule of six will remain outdoors, and mixing inside will still be banned.
Travel abroad
Foreign holidays could be on the cards to green list countries from May 17, although Britons returning from them will have to undergo at least two Covid tests to prove they are clear of the virus.
The Prime Minister will confirm a traffic light system to replace the current blanket ban on non-essential travel from May 17 at the earliest with countries classed red, amber or green.
Green countries will be those with high vaccination rates, low Covid rates, low incidence of variants and the ability to perform genome sequencing to detect new ones.
Holidaymakers will only be able to return if they have a negative test within 72 hours of departure and will also be required to have at least one test after arrival in England.
Ministers are considering whether this second test could be one of the rapid lateral flow versions that are to be made available free to everyone in England including children from April 9. If so, it could be a major cost-saving for families.
The Prime Minister will brief the Cabinet on Monday to outline the next phase of relaxing nationwide restrictions from next Monday
