NIGHTCLUB doors have been kept shut since the first Covid lockdown in March 2020.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to set out his roadmap for lifting the restrictions on February 22 so what could happen to nightclubs as the country comes out of lockdown?
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The government hasn’t said when clubs will reopenCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
When will nightclubs open in the UK?
No date has been set by the government yet as to when nightclubs will reopen although it seems unlikely it will be any time soon.
Johnson is due to set out his five-month roadmap to getting the country out of lockdown on February 22.
The PM said that for now nightclubs, along with dance halls and discotheques, will stay shut – yet this will be kept under review.
It’s likely that nightclubs will be among the last places to reopen, after schools, non-essential retail and hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants.
This is due to the difficulty of making them Covid-secure due to limited social distancing and lower ability to keep areas clean constantly.
It also depends on the continued roll out of the vaccination programme and if that continues to progress well.
The introduction of rapid later flow testing could also mean nightclubs are given the green light to reopen.
The tests can give quick results as to whether someone has Covid-19 without needing for the test to be sent off to a lab.
It usually takes around half an hour for the results to be processed.
How will social distancing nightclubs work?
In spite of pubs, theatres, music halls and many open-air venues now being allowed to start running again with social distancing, nightclubs pose a major challenge.
It is believed that clubs will be required to adhere to a strict set of rules before resuming operations.
It’s been said that dance floors are “a challenging area to operate” with social distancing remaining intact.
This could mean that clubbers wash their hands with sanitiser before coming in.
Dance floor fans may be subject to temperature checks before entry, and queuing outside venues would be spaced out with markings to maintain distancing.
For clubs with seating and tables, people may have to remain in their seat within a bubble to stick to social distancing.
Nightclubs may have to wait a while before reopeningCredit: Getty Images – Getty
What other public spaces remain closed?
Alongside nightclubs, sports and performance stadiums are still closed to the public.
All non-essential shops have been closed in the third lockdown which was introduced in January.
Parks and green spaces are open to the public where people are able to take daily exercise.
