More leisure settings and services will be permitted to reopen from 1 August

Photo: Pippa Fowles / No 10 Downing Street

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the next wave of businesses and treatments that can resume from 1 August

The government has announced that bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos will be able to reopen from 1 August, whilst all close contact services – such as beauticians – will also be allowed to resume.

Beauty salons opened up on Monday 13 July, along with tattooists but beauty treatments involving touching another person’s face - such as eyelash treatments, facials and eyebrow threading, initally remained off limits. The announcement on Friday (17 July) means that these services can resume from 1 August.

Subject to the success of pilots, the government will also restart indoor performances to a live audience, and will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to wider reopening in the autumn.

These easing of lockdown measures apply to England, however, there are concerns about the rate of infection in the borough of Rochdale.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/135535/wear-a-face-covering-now-to-prevent-a-local-lockdown

On Friday (17 July) the council asked the people of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale to help prevent a local lockdown being brought in by adhering to the following measures for the next two weeks:

• Wear face coverings in shops now - do not wait until 24 July
• Wear face coverings in public as much as possible
• Limit visitors to your home to two people
• Keep two metres apart at all times
• Avoid physical contact with anyone outside your own household, including shaking hands or hugging
• Get tested and isolate if you are told to do so

This advice will be reviewed on Friday 31 July.

In a speech on Friday (17 July), Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and to allow conferences and other business events to recommence – again, these changes must be done in a Covid secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.

“Throughout this period, we will look to allow more close contact between friends and family when we can.

“It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas.”

Nightclubs and soft play areas will remain closed for the moment, but this will be kept under review.