Table 1

Summary of four nations’ approach to exit from lockdown

Nation	England¹	Scotland²	Wales³	Northern Ireland⁴
Lockdown	Lockdown	Phase 0	Lockdown	Lockdown
Step 1	Workers who cannot work from home now travel to work Unlimited exercise outdoors Non-household meetings one-on-one outdoors Travel to outdoor spaces Vulnerable limit contact outside household Continue ‘shielding’	Unlimited local outdoor exercise Contact with other household outdoors Reopening of workplaces for work that cannot be performed at home Outdoor-limited retail	‘Red’ School remains for key workers and vulnerable Seeing one member out with household for care only Unlimited local outdoor exercise	Schools remain for key workers and vulnerable Workers who cannot work at home travel to work Outdoor non-contact sports activities Groups of 4–6 non-household members can gather outdoor
Step 2	Phased reopening schools Other households contact ‘bubbles’ to be announced Shared childcare in two households	Larger outdoor gatherings Indoor meeting with other one household On-campus laboratory work Playgroups and sport courts reopen Registration offices for high priority	‘Amber’ Schools open for priority groups Exercise with other individual or group, non-contact team sports Travel for leisure and non-essential retail Museums and galleries open Limited cultural events	Schools open to wider definition of key workers Non-food retail resumes Gatherings of up to 10 individuals outdoors Resumption of team sports training
Step 3	Opening of, public worship and self-care retail Museums, galleries, indoor gyms and cinema open thereafter Wider outdoor public gatherings, weddings, sports and cultural yet thereafter	Indoor meeting with multiple households Longer distance travel School reopen for part-time face to face Museums, galleries, indoor gyms and cinema open	‘Green’ All children and students access education Meeting small groups for socialisation outdoors Unrestricted travel All sports and cultural leisures open Pubs, restaurants, non-essential indoor retail open	School open to priority cohorts Phased return to office work Gatherings of up to 30 people Resumption of non-contact sports Museums and galleries open
Step 4		No time frame set Further relaxation of face-to-face gatherings Full opening of childcare, schools and universities Resumption of sport and mass gatherings		Schools open for all pupils part-time Competitive sports resume behind closed doors, leisure centres open Wider range of social gatherings
Step 5				School extended to full time for early years Extended social group gatherings Resumption of contact sports Spectators attend live sports and concerts