HOTELS, restaurants, pubs, cinemas and hairdressers can reopen from July 4 providing they are 'Covid-secure', Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced.

Theatres and concert halls can also open, but cannot stage live performances.

However, nightclubs, indoor gyms and beauty salons must remain closed 'for now', Mr Johnson said.

Families can be reunited and dinner parties will be allowed as England's coronavirus lockdown is eased, but millions of people will still be unable to hug their loved ones.

Under the changes from July 4, indoor gatherings involving two separate households will be permitted, but social distancing will need to be maintained.

The two-metre rule will be eased, replaced with a 'one-metre plus' measure, with the protection offered by the physical distance enhanced by other mitigation measures such as the use of face coverings, increased hygiene or layout changes in premises.

Boris Johnson said the 'national hibernation' was beginning to end, and 'life is returning to our streets'.

The Prime Minister told MPs that progress in tackling the virus meant steps could be taken to 'safely ease the lockdown', but 'caution will remain our watchword'.

Mr Johnson acknowledged that the two-metre rule 'effectively makes life impossible for large parts of our economy even without other restrictions'.

He added: "We're today (Tuesday) publishing guidance on how business can reduce the risk by taking certain steps to protect workers and customers.

"And these include, for instance, avoiding face-to-face seating by changing office layouts, reducing the number of people in enclosed spaces, improving ventilation, using protective screens and face coverings, closing non-essential social spaces, providing hand sanitiser, changing shift patterns so that staff work in set teams."

With guidance replacing legislation, Mr Johnson said he was relying on people using their common sense to limit the spread of the virus.

Officials acknowledged that July 4 was a significant step, but remained a long way away from normal life.

Among the measures announced by Mr Johnson:

  • Pubs and restaurants will be limited to table service
  • People will be able to stay overnight in hotels, bed and breakfasts and campsites
  • Most leisure facilities and tourist attractions can reopen
  • Cinemas, museums and galleries will be allowed to admit visitors
  • People will be able to go to hairdressers to trim their lockdown locks.

However, nightclubs, soft play centres and other businesses that involve close contact will remain shut - including nail bars and beauty salons.