The lifting of restrictions since the formal introduction of lockdown on March 23rd have seen some of the biggest changes yet.
The changes in England on July 4th were welcomed by many, with the opening of parts of the hospitality industry including Pubs, cinemas and restaurants.
People are slowly returning to what can only be described as the ‘new normal’.
How has the opening of pubs and restaurants socially impacted people?
It has been 14 days since a number of changes came into place within the hospitality industry.
Pubs, cafes and restaurants were given the green light to open as long as they abided by the strict social distancing rules.
Guidance has been issued in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland on measures that pubs and restaurants must take to keep customers and staff safe.
These include:
Controlled access to toilets
Encourage people to book in advance
Option of ordering on mobile phones
Staff should wash their hands before handling plates and cutlery
Pubs and restaurants must also collect and keep customer details for 21 days so as to operate contact tracing.
Despite the efforts to best maintain safety for those visiting pubs and restaurants, not everyone is comfortable just yet.
Data from The Office for National Statistics' (ONS's) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) show that just over 20% of adults spoken to this week* are comfortable eating inside a restaurant.
This is a change from the first week following the easing of restrictions where just over 15% of people felt comfortable eating inside.
Becky Edmonds from Hampshire said: “I was not very comfortable with going to my favourite restaurant straight away but when I saw my friends and family members happily going, my mind changed.”
The public’s feelings change when asked if they are comfortable eating outside, for example at a pub garden.
This may be due to the constant message from the Prime Minister that "The risks of passing on the virus are significantly higher indoors”.
How happy are people to get their haircut?
After 3 months of waiting, Hairdressers were allowed to reopen just after midnight on 4th July, a relief for many.
Hairdressers, barbers are “close contact services” so have been some of the hardest for the government to reopen due to the proximity between customers and employees.
All hairdressers and barbers have been advised to operate an appointment-only system and must keep a temporary record of clients for 21 days for contact tracing purposes.
Due to social distancing not being possible, hairdressers will wear a visor.
Of adults in Great Britain, 93% said they had left their home for any reason during this week*.
Of those who left their home, nearly 1 in 10 adults (9%) visited a barber or hair salon.
With the opening of many sectors, how happy are people to socialise?
Outdoors in England, up to 30 people from two households can meet, or a maximum of six people can meet from multiple households.
People from different households must maintain social distancing throughout.
In Scotland, up to 15 people from five different households can meet outdoors.
In Northern Ireland, up to 30 people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors.
In Wales,any number of people from two different households can now meet outdoors.
Data from The Office for National Statistics' (ONS's) Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) show that over 70s are most likely to engage in social distancing when socialising with those from outside their own household.
How are people feeling within themselves?
With all the changes occurring and the easing of lockdown, it is understandable people may be struggling mentally.
Despite over 9 in 10 people leaving the house in the past week, the most popular reason is to go grocery shopping or to pick up medicines.
People's well-being has been affected, not only in the past 7 days, but throughout the pandemic.
Almost 7 in 10 adults said they were very or somewhat worried about the effect that the coronavirus was having on their life at the moment. This has been at a stable level since the end of May.
The largest change in issues affecting wellbeing was feeling stressed or anxious, where nearly 7 in 10 adults said they experienced this.
The NHS has said”It's important to remember that it's OK to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently. Remember, for most of us, these feelings will pass. Staying at home may be difficult, but you're helping to protect yourself and others by doing it.”
*11-18th July
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