Boris Johnson explains why Leeds won't be going back into Covid Tiers in lockdown exit plan

Speaking in Parliament the Prime Minister said the road map "will guide us cautiously and irreversibly towards regaining our freedoms while doing all we can to protect our people against Covid".

The plan is split into four steps - with at least five weeks between each to gauge progress.

And officials have stressed that the dates provided were the earliest at which each measure would be removed, as the Government will be driven by “data, not dates”, so they could still be subject to change.

What is the situation in Leeds?

Leeds will follow the same four-stage pattern of national lockdown restrictions lifting as the rest of the country.

The lifting will cover the whole of England, with no return to the regional tier system, and working from home will continue to be advised until at least June and possibly longer.

Leeds' infection rate is currently 163.8 per 100,000 people, up slightly from the day before, and currently still higher than in early December.

The new lockdown end plans mean that Leeds will not revert back into any kind of local lockdown scheme, such as Tier 3 or Tier 2, when lockdown lifts, as happened over Christmas.

The current picture in Leeds is one of a city which has been stuck in some sort of restrictions for over 6 months. Local restrictions began in Leeds in October 2020, after the city was placed into Tier 2.

Leeds stayed in Tier 2 until an announcement of Tier 3 was made, which was superseded by another national lockdown.

That was lifted in December, when Leeds was put into Tier 3, which was then replaced by national lockdown again in January.

What will happen with lockdown now?

Starting on March 8 where care home residents will be allowed one in-person visitor, all children will return to school, and after school clubs will be allowed again.

People will also be able to meet one other person socially outdoors - a change from the current rules where you are only allowed to do so if taking part in exercise.

From March 29, this will be expanded with the return of the rule of six where up to six people from two households will be allowed to meet outdoors, including in private gardens.

And the Government’s message will move to encouraging people to stay local.

Outdoor sports facilities will be able to reopen and people will be able to take part in formally-organised outdoor sports.

From April 12, shops can reopen as well as hairdressers and public buildings such as libraries and museums, plus zoos and theme parks.

Gyms and swimming pools will also be opened, and pubs and restaurants will be allowed to open outdoors, with no return of the rule that a substantial meal will be needed to drink alcohol, and curfews will also be scrapped.

Self-contained accommodation will be allowed to open, and the number of people allowed at weddings and wakes will rise to 15, this will then again rise to 30 from May 17 with step three.

Also from May 17 hospitality venues will be allowed to open indoors, along with entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas, but the rule of six or two households will still apply and people must remain seated.

Outdoors, limits will be lifted on how many people can meet.

At this point the rest of the accommodation sector will be allowed to reopen including hotels and B&Bs, plus adult sports groups held indoors and exercise classes can resume.

Overnight stays away from home with family will also be allowed as long as the rule of six is maintained.

Finally, in step four - from June 21 - all legal limits on social contact will be removed, and the final sectors of the economy such as nightclubs will be able to reopen, with measures on large events and performances also lifted, with hopes for similar news on weddings.

How did Leeds react?

Leeds hairdressers called the roadmap a 'devastating blow', as they had been hoping to reopen much sooner than the April plans.

Leeds headteachers have stressed the importance of face-to-face teaching as they welcome the move to reopen schools in two weeks time.

Sam Done, principal of Hillcrest Academy in Chapeltown, said face-to-face teaching and socialisation were vital for the wellbeing of the primary school's pupils.