The plan for lifting lockdown in England could see pubs open in May and life ‘broadly’ returning to normal by July.

Ministers and industry leaders are said to be discussing a blueprint that would allow restrictions to be eased at four-weekly intervals, beginning with limited Easter holidays.

The first phase once schools have reopened would allow holiday lets and larger hotels to open in early April, but with dining rooms kept closed, according to the Daily Mail. Sports such as golf and tennis could also resume at this time.

Pubs, bars and restaurants will have to wait until early May to begin serving customers, with a maximum of two households allowed to sit together indoors and the rule of six applying outside.

The next stage, in early June, would see the rule of six extended indoors.

The hospitality and domestic holiday industries could be allowed to return to normal in July, but with social distancing measures kept in place.

Boris Johnson will unveil his roadmap out of lockdown on February 22.

It is understood ministers will make a final decision on the timetable at the weekend when they are presented with the latest data on the spread of the virus.

The phased approach appears to confirm that despite demands of some Tory MPs, the Prime Minister is determined to be cautious, with plenty of ‘headroom’ to adjust to any resurgence of the virus.

The fact that the rule of six and social distancing are expected to remain in force until well into the summer indicates the extent of the worries over new mutations.

According to the Mail, office staff are expected to be told to keep working from home when the Prime Minister unveils his roadmap.

He is not expected to set a firm date for when employees should return to their desks, meaning that the ‘work from home if you can’ message will continue for the foreseeable future.

It comes as the Government prepares to unveil a new slogan encouraging people to get tested for Covid.

‘Are you ready? Get testing. Go’ will reportedly be a new campaign launched ahead of the reopening of schools next month.

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