Archive: This article describes England’s lockdown roadmap announced in February 2021. For current guidance, see NHS COVID-19 information.

On 22 February 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined a four-step plan for easing COVID-19 restrictions in England. The dates were conditional on the government’s assessment of the evidence, rather than guaranteed reopening dates.

At the time, the government aimed to offer a first vaccine dose to everyone in priority groups 5–9 by 15 April and to every adult by the end of July. These were targets announced in the prime minister’s statement.

The four tests

Before moving to each step, the government said it would consider whether:

  • the vaccination programme was continuing successfully;
  • vaccines were sufficiently effective at reducing hospitalisations and deaths among vaccinated people;
  • infection rates risked a surge in hospitalisations that would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS; and
  • new variants of concern had fundamentally changed the assessment of risk.

The original roadmap

The first step was planned for 8 and 29 March 2021; the following steps were proposed no earlier than 12 April, 17 May and 21 June. The final step was subsequently delayed and began on 19 July 2021.

The graphics below show the original proposals, not current rules. The government’s February 2021 roadmap provides the full text of the four graphics; its July update records the change to the final step.

The February 2021 roadmap’s proposed first step, with changes on 8 and 29 March.

The February 2021 roadmap’s proposed second step, no earlier than 12 April. The February 2021 roadmap’s proposed third step, no earlier than 17 May. The February 2021 roadmap’s proposed fourth step, no earlier than 21 June; it was subsequently delayed.