Monday 17 May 2021 sees the lifting of more lockdown restrictions across the UK. At the same time a traffic light system of red, amber and green countries will come into force for foreign travel.
It has been confusing – since March 2020 the UK has had three national lockdowns plus multiple regional lockdowns which in turn were defined by different tiers. As well as this the four nations of the UK - England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - have been under different restrictions from each other much of the time.
This piece brings together and summarises what will be allowed from 17 May 2021 and addresses any major differences between the four nations’ rules. All information is taken from each nation’s government websites.
Across the whole of the UK current social distancing measures will remain in place across all public places and businesses. Masks must still be worn unless exempt and one way systems and restricted numbers in shops, restaurants, cinemas etc will still apply.
Changes from 17 May 2021
England
Social Contact
Up to 30 people can meet outdoors, including private gardens.
Up to six people from six different households can meet indoors including private homes. Example: one person can invite five people for a meal in their home and those five people can all be from separate homes.
Two households can meet indoors including private homes even when that means there are more than six people in total. Example: a household with seven people in it can meet indoors with another household of five people, this is twelve people in total BUT from only two homes.
Overnight stays in another home allowed.
30 people allowed at weddings and occasions such as christenings and bar mitzvahs.
No cap on number of people allowed at a funeral but venue must be large enough to accommodate the number attending whilst maintaining social distancing measures.
Up to five people allowed to visit care home residents. These must be the same five designated people, not five one day and a different five on another.
Business and activities
All of the following can reopen:
Indoor hospitality venues
Cinemas & theatres
Museums & Conference Centres
Indoor play areas
Hotels, hostels and B&Bs
Indoor adult exercise classes and activities (children’s classes are already open)
Indoor sporting events with up to 1,000 spectators or at half capacity, whichever is the lower number. Example: a venue that seats up to 800 people can have a maximum of 400 people attend. A venue with a capacity of 4,000 people can have 1,000 attend (not half which would be 2,000)
Outdoor sporting events with up to 4,000 spectators or at half capacity, whichever is the lower number. Example: an outdoor venue that seats up to 3,000 people can have 1,500 people attend. A venue with a capacity of 12,000 people can have 4,000 attend (not half which would be 6,000)
In very large outdoor seated venues such as football and rugby stadiums, and where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 spectators are allowed or a quarter-full, whichever is lower. Example: a venue that seats up to 20,000 people can have 5,000 people attend – a quarter of its total capacity. A venue with a capacity of 80,000 people can have 10,000 attend (not a quarter which would be 20,000.) (1)
Scotland
Scotland has a complicated five tier system of lockdown restrictions. Most of mainland Scotland is moving down to tier 2 on 17 May 2021 but some of the islands will move to tier 1 and Glasgow and Moray are remaining at tier 3. (2)
The following are the regulations for tier 2 and will apply to most of Scotland from 17 May.
Social Contact
Up to eight people from eight different households can meet outdoors, including private gardens.
Up to six people from no more than three different households can meet indoors including private homes.
Overnight stays in another home are allowed.
50 people are allowed at weddings and funerals.
One person only allowed to visit care home residents.
Business and Activities
All of the following can reopen:
Indoor hospitality venues
Cinemas & theatres
Museums & Conference Centres
Indoor play areas
Hotels, hostels and B&Bs
Indoor adult exercise classes and activities (children’s classes are already open)
Up to 100 allowed to attend indoor sporting events
Up to 250 allowed to attend outdoor sporting events rising to 500 people if seated (3)
Wales
From 17 May 2021 the following applies:
Social Contact
Up to six people from six different households can meet outdoors, including private gardens.
Up to four people from different households will be able to meet indoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Two designated households only can meet indoors in private homes including overnight stays. This must always be the same two households, you cannot change the household you meet indoors with.
30 people are allowed at weddings and funerals rising to 50 if event is outdoors.
Two people allowed to visit a care home resident.
Business and Activities
All of the following can reopen:
Indoor hospitality venues
Cinemas & theatres
Museums & Conference Centres
Indoor play areas
Hotels, hostels and B&Bs
Up to 30 allowed to attend adult indoor exercise classes and activities (children’s classes are already open)
Up to 50 allowed to attend adult outdoor exercise classes and activities (children’s classes are already open)
Sports stadiums remain closed (4)
Northern Ireland
Changes in restrictions are expected on 24 May 2021 in Northern Ireland.
Current Restrictions include:
Households are not allowed to mix indoors in private homes unless part of a support bubble.
Overnight stays in private homes are not permitted.
Up to 15 people (including children) from no more than three households can meet up in a private garden otherwise up to 10 people (including children of all ages) from a maximum of two households can meet outdoors.
Outdoor hospitality is open for up to six people from no more than two households.
Outdoor visitor attractions are open.
Indoor visitor attractions are closed.
Care home visits are limited to two people at any one time for no more than one hour.
The number allowed to attend weddings and funerals is dictated by a risk assessment for the venue, wedding receptions and wakes are not permitted.
It is anticipated that 24 May will see the reopening of:
Indoor hospitality, including pubs and hotels
Indoor group exercise
Indoor visitor attractions
And the restarting of:
Some indoor mixing of households in private homes
Wedding receptions and funeral wakes (5)
Foreign Travel
From 17 May 2021 the UK will have a red, amber and green list of countries which lays out the rules that must be followed when entering the UK from them. The list does not necessarily mean people from the UK can travel to them. Some countries on the green list are not allowing any visitors in except in extenuating circumstances.
The designation of red, amber or green dictates the level of quarantine required when arriving in the UK. All entrants to the UK are required to have a COVID-19 test prior to arrival and must have proof of a negative result. Likewise all entrants must take an additional COVID-19 test two days after arrival.
Travel within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man does not require COVID-19 testing or quarantining on arrival unless you have also been in a red or amber country in the previous 10 days.
Green List
Green countries have levels of COVID-19 that are the same or lower than the UK’s. If entering the UK from one of these you do not have to quarantine.
From 17 May 2021, these countries/ territories will be on the UK green list:
Australia
Brunei
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Gibraltar
Iceland
Israel and Jerusalem
New Zealand
Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira)
Singapore
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
NOTE: Australia, New Zealand and Portugal remain closed to overseas visitors. Portugal is set to review this on 30 May 2021. Australia and New Zealand have not said when they will review their entry restrictions.
Red List
Red list countries are those whose rates of COVID-19 are continuing to rise and the pandemic remains out of control. You can only enter the UK from a red list country if you are a British or Irish citizen or you have residence rights in the UK. Leisure travel to red list countries is not permitted.
On arrival in the UK you must go straight to a government designated hotel for 10 days quarantine. This must be booked prior to arrival in the UK. Two COVID-19 tests will be carried out during the hotel stay.
Red list countries by Continent:
Africa
Angola
Botswana
Burundi
Cape Verdi
Democratic Republic of Congo
Eswatini
Ethiopia
French Guiana
Guyana
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
South Africa
Suriname
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Asia
Bangladesh
India
Maldives
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Philippines
Qatar
Turkey
UAE
Latin America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela
Amber list
Amber list countries are those with ongoing high rates of COVID-19 infection but the pandemic is being brought under control. Leisure travel to amber countries is not permitted.
On arrival in England you must quarantine either at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days and take two COVID-19 tests on day 2 and day 8 after arrival.
There are 185 countries on the amber list.
A full list can be found here on the government website.
In summary all the following are on the amber list:
Every country in Europe with the exception of Gibraltar, Iceland and Portugal
All Caribbean island nations
Canada and the USA
All other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America not on the red list are on the amber list.
(3) https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-protection-levels/pages/protection-level-2/
