The Prime Minister has confirmed that England will move to Stage 2 of the Government's Roadmap, as scheduled, on Monday April 12th.

From that date, the following changes will take place:

- All non-essential shops allowed to open, along with close-contact services, including hairdressers and beauty salons

- Restaurants and pubs allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors – (while you will no longer be required to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and there will be no curfew, table service and face covering rules will apply. Wider social contact rules will also remain in these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households)

- Indoor leisure and gyms can reopen, as can outdoor attractions such as mini-golf or drive-in cinemas

- Public buildings, libraries and community centres can open their doors

- Members of the same household can take a holiday in England in self-contained accommodation or holiday lets

- Weddings attended by up to 15 people can take place

- All children's activities, indoor parent and child groups (up to 15 parents) to restart

Please remember: businesses have been preparing to reopen their premises for weeks and months in many cases and some may choose to reopen on or after 12 April. Before visiting a shop or venue, please check online for details about their reopening plans.

In Wirral, Council-run facilities that are planned to return from April 12th include:

- Swimming at Europa, West Kirby and Guinea Gap Leisure centres

- Gyms at Bidston Tennis Centre, West Kirby and Guinea Gap Leisure centres.

- Four central libraries to reopen for order and collect only: Birkenhead, Bebington, Wallasey Central & West Kirby.

- Many more traders to reopen in Birkenhead Market – the market's public toilets will also reopen but indoor seating will remain closed.

- Parent/child groups across Wirral's children centres to return on a limited basis with groups and dates to be announced in the coming days.

The Oval in Bebington and Woodchurch vaccination sites along with Leasowe food hub will NOT reopen all their facilities as they are still being used to assist with the COVID-19 response.

Currently, Stage 3 of the roadmap is scheduled to come in on May 17th.

However, Central Government has advised that we'll only move to the next leg of the journey subject to their assessment that it is safe to do so.

- Be patient - Shops and hospitality are doing all they can to become COVID-19 secure, so please do your bit and be patient with staff who are getting used to new ways of working.

- Be kind - Not everybody will be ready to move out of restrictions at the same pace. Be kind, there's plenty of time to make up for lost time.

- Be safe – Let's keep washing our hands, covering our faces and keeping our distance from those outside our household/support bubble to stop the spread of the virus.