The UK government has confirmed that the next phase of
easing lockdown measures in England will go ahead from Saturday, 15 August
following a two-week pause, paving the way for pilots of larger business events
and conferences to begin.
Pilot events, along with trials of live spectators in
sporting venues, were originally due to begin from 1 August, but the government
paused plans for the next phase of easing lockdown measures due to an increase
in coronavirus cases in the UK. Data shows the “situation now appears to have levelled off”,
according to the government.
Details of the pilot events have yet to be released, but it
is still the government’s intention to allow business events and conferences to
resume from 1 October provided the UK’s infection rate remains at current
levels.
Venues and organisers have to follow the government's Covid Secure guidelines, including the provision of social distancing.
Prime minister Boris Johnson said: “Most people in this
country are following the rules and doing their bit to control the virus, but
we must remain focused and we cannot be complacent…. As I have always said, we
will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required, or to continue to implement
local measures to help to control the spread of the virus.”