Coronavirus (COVID-19) along the River Thames –latest information and advice

Know Before you Go

It is not possible to keep information on the website up-to-date at this time. Please check on businesses own websites. Once we have more details of the roadmap we can advise when it is likely for individual activities to reopen such as day boat hire, watersports hire and boat trips.

COVID 19 UPDATE 23 FEB 2021

Roadmap for easing of restrictions in England announced

In his statement to the House of Commons today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the government roadmap that outlines how lockdown restrictions will be eased in England. The roadmap is in four steps. Before proceeding to the next step, the Government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous steps.

 This assessment will be based on four tests:

1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
4. Assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern.

There will be a minimum of five weeks between each step: four weeks for the data to reflect changes in restrictions; followed by seven days’ notice of the restrictions to be eased.

PLEASE REMEMBER THESE ARE FROM DATES AND MAY CHANGE.

 The full roadmap document is available here. A simplified table of the steps is available on pages 47-48. See below for a summary of the key points:

Step 1 (two parts split between 8 and 29 March) - Stay Local

From 8 March:

People will be allowed to spend time in outdoor public spaces for recreation on their own, with one other person, or with their household or support bubble. People must continue to maintain social distance from those outside their household. This is in addition to outdoor exercise which is already permitted.

There will continue to be restrictions on international travel. Holidays will not be a permitted reason to travel. Those seeking to leave the UK must complete an outbound declaration of travel form ahead of departure.

From 29 March

People will no longer be legally required to stay at home, but some restrictions will remain such as continuing to work from home where possible and minimising all travel. The "rule of six" will return for outdoors, and meetings of two households will also be permitted. This includes in private gardens.Those in a support bubble will count as part of the same household. People from different households will still need to social distance.

Outdoor sports and leisure facilities - will be able to reopen and formally organised outdoor sports will be able to resume, subject to guidance. The "rule of six" social contact limits apply.

Self Drive Day Hire Boats - Permitted for the purpose of open air recreation in a public outdoor place (vessel must be open air). 6 people / 2 households per boat (if vessel is open air). Single household (if vessel is enclosed).

Skippered Boats/Passenger Boat Trips - It is up to the discretion of each individual skipper whether your skipper boat may operate compliantly under each step. Can only go insider to use the toilet. The skipper does not count towards Rule of 6 or 2 households.Skippers should consider: 1. The social contact rules governing indoor and outdoor gaterhing which apply at each step. 2.The ability to ensure appropriate social distancing between individual/households at each step.

Businesses including hospitality remain closed.

 
Step 2 – from 12 April at the earliest, subject to an assessment of the data against the four tests

INCLUDES Domestic Overnight stays in self catering accommodation for household groups and outdoor activities, venues, events and hospitality

Outdoor gatherings must still be limited to 6 people or 2 households as in Step 1, and no indoor mixing will be allowed unless otherwise exempt. Additional premises will be able to reopen but should only be visited alone or with household groups:

Self Catering - Domestic overnight stays will be allowed and self-contained accommodation - those that do not require shared use of bathing, entry/exit, catering or sleeping facilities - can also reopen, though must only be used by members of the same household.

Hotel Boats - If the accommodation is self-contained (those that do not require shared use of bathing, entry/exit, catering or sleeping facilities) it is permitted for use by single household only.

Self Drive Day Hire Boats - Permitted for the purpose of open air recreation in a public outdoor place (vessel must be open air). 6 people / 2 households per boat (if vessel is open air). Single household (if vessel is enclosed).

Self Drive Holiday Boats - Single household/bubble per boat

Skippered Boats/Passenger Boat Trips - It is up to the discretion of each individual skipper whether your skipper boat may operate compliantly under each step. Can only go insider to use the toilet. The skipper does not count towards Rule of 6 or 2 households.Skippers should consider: 1. The social contact rules governing indoor and outdoor gaterhing which apply at each step. 2. The ability to ensure appropriate social distancing between individual/households at each step.

Hospitality venues for outdoor service, without any curfew or the requirement for alcohol to be accompanied by a substantial meal - customers must order, eat and drink while seated.

Most outdoor settings and attractions including outdoor hospitality, zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas/performances/events will reopen

Non-essential retail

Personal care premises such as hairdressers, salons and close contact services

Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and spas (but not including saunas and steam rooms, which are due to open at Step 3).

Public buildings such as libraries and community centres

Weddings, receptions, and commemorative events including wakes will be able to take place with up to 15 attendees (in premises that are permitted to open).

All newly open settings must abide by the social contact rules. This will be accompanied by mitigations including workforce testing and continued social distancing guidance. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise domestic travel where they can. 

Step 3 – from 17 May at the earliest and at least five weeks after Step 2

INCLUDES Hotels, B&Bs, Indoor hospitality e.g. pubs and restaurants.

Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted, but gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors will remain illegal. Indoors, people will be able to meet socially in a group of 6, or with 1 other household (though it may be possible to go further than this at Step 3 depending on the data). COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and premises must not cater for groups larger than the legal limits.

All holiday accommodation can be opened subject to social contact limits. No legal restriction on sharing of facilities if social contact rules adhered to.

Sectors which will reopen include:

Hotel Boats - 6 people / 2 households per booking

Self Drive Day Hire - No restrictions (other than usual capacity of vessel, if open air), 6 people or 2 households per boat (if vessel is enclosed)

Self drive Holiday Hire - 6 people/2 households per boat

Skippered Boats/Passenger Boat Trips - It is up to the discretion of each individual skipper whether your skipper boat may operate compliantly under each step. Can only go insider to use the toilet. The skipper does not count towards Rule of 6 or 2 households.Skippers should consider: 1. The social contact rules governing indoor and outdoor gaterhing which apply at each step. 2. The ability to ensure appropriate social distancing between individual/households at each step.

Accommodation, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs

Indoor hospitality - with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. The requirement to order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) will remain;

Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas;

Indoor entertainment - such as museums, cinemas and children’s play areas;

Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes

Some large events - including conferences, theatre and concert performances and sports events.

Controlled indoor events - of up to 1,000 people or 50% of a venue’s capacity, whichever is lower, will be permitted, as will outdoor events with a capacity of either 50% or 4,000 people, whichever is lower.

Large outdoor seated venues - The Government will also make a special provision for large, outdoor, seated venues where crowds can be safely distributed, allowing up to 10,000 people or 25% of total seated capacity, whichever is lower.

Weddings, receptions, funerals, and commemorative events - including wakes can proceed with up to 30 attendees.

A broader range of stand-alone life events will also be permitted at this step, including bar mitzvahs and christenings. In addition, pilots will run as part of the Events Research Programme to examine how such events can take place without the need for social distancing using other mitigations such as testing.

Step 4 – from 21 June at the earliest, and at least five weeks after Step 3

FULL REOPENING

With appropriate mitigations in place, by Step 4, the Government aims to remove all legal limits on social contact, reopen the remaining closed settings, including nightclubs and enable large events, including theatre performances, above the Step 3 capacity restrictions (subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme) and remove all limits on weddings and other life events, subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme.

The situation can change at any point. We therefore ask that you familiarise yourself with the information on our Know Before You Go page which is updated regularly so that both businesses and consumers have a one-stop resource for planning visits.

The NHS COVID-19 App

The NHS COVID-19 app is part of the Government's large scale coronavirus (COVID-19) testing and contact tracing programme called the NHS Test and Trace service in England and the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service in Wales. The app will be used, alongside traditional contact tracing, to notify users if they come into contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus.

The app allows people to report symptoms, order a coronavirus test, check in to venues by scanning a QR code and it helps the NHS trace individuals that may have coronavirus.

The app will help the NHS understand if the virus is spreading in a particular area, and so local authorities can respond quickly to stop it spreading further and save lives. The app does this while protecting a user’s anonymity. Nobody, including the government, will know who or where a particular user is.