Face coverings and social distancing may stay 'for a few years'

England is taking its first steps out of the latest lockdown, with more than 25 million doses of vaccine now administered and Covid deaths and hospitalisations both falling.

But Dr Mary Ramsay, Public Health England’s head of immunisation, has warned that ‘lower-level’ restrictions may be needed for some time, as people adapt to the ‘new normal’.

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From March 29, groups of up to six people will be able to meet outdoors in England, under the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, with pubs and restaurants set to be allowed to open for outdoor service from April 12 and all legal limits on social contact being lifted on June 21, provided conditions are met.

But Dr Ramsay says some restrictions may still be needed until the rest of the world is better vaccinated against Covid-19, with the return of mass events being monitored ‘very carefully’.

Asked if she expected mask-wearing and social distancing to continue in the ‘new normal’, she told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show: “I think we are talking about quite a long period of time.

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“We may eventually get back to a much more normal situation but I think people have got used to those lower-level restrictions now and I think people can live with them and the economy can still go on with those restrictions, with those less severe restrictions in place.

“So I think certainly for a few years, at least until other parts of the world are as well vaccinated as we are and the numbers have come down everywhere, that’s when we may be able to go very gradually back to a more normal situation.”

From Monday, March 29, the Government’s ‘stay at home’ order will end, with people instead being asked to ‘stay local’, but overseas travel will remain banned.

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Shops, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries, outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality venues such as beer gardens are due to reopen from April 12, depending on infection rates, deaths and hospitalisations.

Measures will be relaxed further from May 17, when two households, or groups of up to six people, will be allowed to mix indoors and limited crowds will be allowed back to sporting events.