TAXI RECOVERY PLAN: The key dates on the Roadmap out of Lockdown

With the Government having now unveiled the ‘Roadmap’ out of lockdown, the light at the end of the tunnel appears to finally be coming into sight and the taxi industry continues to focus on moving towards life and work post- COVID.

Whilst nothing is going to drastically change over night, taxi drivers and operators will have a keen eye on the key Roadmap dates as they plot their route to recovery.

STEP ONE: 8 March

Education

In Step 1, all children and students returned safely to face-to-face education in schools and colleges on 8 March. Childcare and children’s supervised activities also resumed where necessary to enable parents to work or engage in similar activities.

Higher Education students at English universities on practical courses were also able to return on 8 March.

Social contact

People are allowed to leave home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble, if they are eligible for one, or with one person from outside their household. Care home residents are also allowed one regular visitor.

STEP ONE: 29 March

Social contact

The evidence shows that it is safer for people to meet outdoors rather than indoors. And this is why from 29 March, when most schools start to break up for the Easter holidays, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.

Business and activities

Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, will also be allowed to reopen, and people will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

Travel

The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March but many restrictions will remain in place. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes. Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons. Holidays abroad will not be allowed, given it will remain important to manage the risk of imported variants and protect the vaccination programme. The Government has launched a new taskforce to review global travel which will report on 12 April.

STEP TWO: not before 12 April

Business and activities

Step two will be no earlier than 12 April, and will see the opening of non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres.

Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups); as will most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas. Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.

Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors at Step 2 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’).

Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.

Events

While funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners, the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.

STEP THREE: not before 17 May

Social contact

As part of Step three, no earlier than 17 May, the Government will look to continue easing limits on seeing friends and family wherever possible, allowing people to decide on the appropriate level of risk for their circumstances.

This means that most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted - although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will apply - we will keep under review whether it is safe to increase this.

As soon as possible and by no later than Step 3, we will also update the advice on social distancing between friends and family, including hugging. But until this point, people should continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble.

Business and activities

Most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able to reopen. In all sectors, COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and businesses may not cater for groups bigger than the legal limits. Indoor hospitality will reopen - and as in Step 2, venues will not have to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks; nor will there be a curfew. Customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.

Other indoor locations to open up in Step 3 include indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs; and indoor adult group sports and exercise classes. The government will also allow some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number), and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number). In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).

Events

Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to other types of significant life events including bar mitzvahs and christenings.

Review of social distancing

Finally, before Step 4 begins, the Government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures that have been put in place to cut transmission. This will inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which the rules on 1 metre plus, the wearing of face coverings and other measures may be lifted. This will also inform guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete.

STEP FOUR: not before 21 June

Social contact

By Step 4 which will take place no earlier than 21 June, the Government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact.

Business, activities and events

The Government hope to reopen remaining premises, including nightclubs, and ease the restrictions on large events and performances that apply in Step 3. This will be subject to the results of a scientific Events Research Programme to test the outcome of certain pilot events through the spring and summer, where the Government will trial the use of testing and other techniques to cut the risk of infection. The same Events Research Programme will guide decisions on whether all limits can be removed on weddings and other life events.

Speaking of the Roadmap and how it will effect the taxi industry, Paul Brennan, LTDA Chairman, said in TAXI Newspaper: “In the next couple of months, we will only see a small improvement in our work levels with the summer probably being the earliest we can really expect any significant improvement. Even then we won’t see a return to normal work levels for a while, not by any means, but hopefully it’s the start of a good strong recovery.

“Over the coming weeks, we will likely see the re-introduction of schemes we saw last summer to close roads in Soho and the wider areas of Westminster and central London. These schemes are of course a bit of a double-edged sword.

“On the one hand they restrict the road space for vehicles, which makes it more difficult for us to get around, but on the other hand it gives people the confidence to come out and socialise and hopefully either on the way there or on the way home hail a black cab, so we will see more bums on seats.”