People in North Yorkshire urged to be cautious as lockdown restrictions ease

Dr Peter Billingsley, the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group lead for vulnerable people, said: “We understand the lifting of lockdown restrictions will come as very positive news to a lot of North Yorkshire residents. However, it is still crucial that everyone remembers that the coronavirus pandemic has not gone away, and people must continue to follow the two-metre social distancing rule where possible.

“Although the new restrictions from 4 July talk about social distancing of ‘one metre plus’, the advice to stay two metres apart remains in place unless this is not possible. If two metres is not possible then the ‘one metre plus’ guidance should include additional measures such as wearing a face covering or mask, installing screens where possible, sitting side by side rather than face to face and continuing to wash your hands regularly. The advice is also to still to continue to work from home if you can”

After tomorrow (Saturday, July 4), lockdown relaxations include the managed reopening of pubs, cafes and restaurants, hotels and B&Bs, cinemas, visitor attractions and hairdressers if they can do so safely.

Other public places such as libraries, places of worship and outdoor playgrounds will also be able to open and people will be able to meet in groups of up to two households in any location, indoors or outdoors, providing social distancing remains in place; and people can stay overnight away from home with their own household, or with one other household, providing social distancing is in place.

There will be a number of changes in the way businesses are run, and workplaces will have to meet the new Covid-19 guidelines before opening, which aim to keep everyone – workers and customers – as safe as possible.