Working from home to stay in place until at least 21 June as part of Covid roadmap

22 February 2021, 18:27 | Updated: 22 February 2021, 18:30

Working from home advice will be kept in place until at least the summer
Working from home advice will be kept in place until at least the summer. Picture: PA
Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Working from home advice will be kept in place until at least 21 June as part of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown.

The prime minister confirmed in his Commons announcement on Monday that the remote working policy would not be lifted in the coming weeks.

Despite the government planning to lift stay-at-home measures from 29 March, many lockdown restrictions will remain in place to prevent another spike in coronavirus cases.

Mr Johnson told MPs that, following this date, people should "continue to work from home where they can and minimise all travel wherever possible".

From no earlier than 21 June, the UK will begin Step Four of the roadmap, during which ministers hope "to remove all legal limits on social contact".

Read more: Life almost back to normal by 21 June in PM's roadmap to freedom

Explained: When will gyms be open again in England?

PM confirms outside rule of six on March 29

This will include allowing weddings and other life events, reopening nightclubs and enabling large events such as theatre performances above the limits of Step Three, with testing potentially being put in place to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.

The prime minister said: "Our journey back towards normality will be subject to resolving a number of key questions and to do this we will conduct four reviews.

"One will assess how long we need to maintain social distancing and face masks. This will also inform guidance on working from home which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete."

Therefore, working from home measures are not expected to be lifted any earlier than this date.

Read more: Pubs and restaurants to open in mid-April under PM's roadmap

Explained: Rule of six - what is it and does it include babies and children?

Pubs and restaurants to open from 12 April outside

He added: "A second review will consider the resumption of international travel which is vital for many businesses which have been hardest hit, including retail, hospitality, tourism and aviation.

"A successor to the global travel taskforce will report by 12 April so that people can plan for the summer."

Mr Johnson said the reviews would investigate how vaccines, and the number of people who have received a jab, have impacted Covid-19 transmission.

This would allow the government to decide whether the current one-metre-plus rule on social distancing and requirements on wearing face masks indoors could be lifted as early as the middle of June.

The final two of the four reviews will consider "Covid status certification" in helping venues to reopen safely, and looking at the safe return of major events.

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The Princess of Wales has shares portraits drawn by her three children during the half-term break.

Princess of Wales shares heartwarming portraits drawn by kids George, Charlotte and Louis during half-term break

Double Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas will retire from cycling this year.

Tour de France winner and double Olympic champion Geraint Thomas to retire from cycling at end of season

A 13-year-old boy has died and five others have been arrested following  a car crash on A672 Oldham Road.

Boy, 13, dies and five others arrested as Vauxhall Corsa spins off road in horror car crash

Lisa Smith, 43, was named by Kent Police

Pictured: Mother-of-two shot dead at pub on Valentine's Day - as police search river Thames for partner

Julia Wandelt who has claimed to be Madeleine McCann

Woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann releases bombshell new DNA test results

Pope Francis will need to remain in hospital with a respiratory tract infection

Pope to remain in hospital with infection as doctors tackle 'complex clinical picture'

One lucky punter scooped £65m on the EuroMillions

Lucky UK ticket-holder claims £65m Valentine's Day EuroMillions jackpot

A life-drawing class that has been running for over 30 years has been told its models must cover-up or find a new venue.

Models at life drawing class in posh London neighbourhood told to cover up over child 'safeguarding' concerns

Exclusive
An investigation by LBC can reveal there are more than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England - the equivalent of one in every 23.

More than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England as thousands left at risk of homelessness

William Howell was found dead in the Aria Casino Hotel in August 2023

Heartbroken family of British man 'left alone to die' in Las Vegas suing ambulance company and hotel where he died

Conor Maynard shared a health update after his fall

Singer Conor Maynard gives health update after being rushed to hospital on stretcher

Lisa Smith, 43, has been named by Kent Police as the victim of the shooting on Valentine's Day

Mother-of-two shot dead at pub on Valentines’ Day is named - as tributes paid to ‘wonderful mum’

Bafta winners

Conclave and The Brutalist win big at 2025 BAFTA awards - as absent Gascón nomination met with rousing applause

Jennifer Rauchet, Pete Hegest, US defence secretary, and Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of Defence of Poland, during a welcoming ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, on February 14, 2025.

Ukraine is the 'frontline' of Britain, Starmer says as US begins peace talks with Russia

A fire that engulfed luxury hotel Chiltern Firehouse reportedly started in a pizza oven.

Fire that engulfed celebrity haunt Chiltern Firehouse 'started in pizza oven' of luxury hotel

Julie Buckley, 54, has not been seen since late January when she went missing from the village of Christchurch, Cambridgeshire.

Man charged with murder in 'no-body' case after woman goes missing in Cambridgeshire