Coronavirus: Businesses reopen as England lockdown eases further - BBC News
Casinos, bowling alleys and soft play centres can now open their doors following a two-week delay.
Businesses such as bowling alleys, soft play centres and casinos can now reopen in England as lockdown rules ease.

More beauty treatments, small wedding receptions and live indoor performances can also resume.

The further lifting of restrictions comes as the government introduces bigger fines for failing to wear a mask in places where it is compulsory.

Meanwhile, thousands of holidaymakers have rushed to get back to the UK to beat French quarantine rules.

Stephen Burns, chief executive of Hollywood Bowl, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his venues were reopening today at 50% capacity, with customers no longer sharing the ball return between bowling lanes.

Hand sanitiser and disposable gloves are provided, staff wear masks and are protected by screens, while customers are required to wear masks when they are not eating or drinking.

Mr Burns said he did not know how customers would react to the changes. "I suppose all you can go on is what you've seen elsewhere - I don't think it's putting people off shopping particularly," he said.

"We're all just trying to get used to what is now the new normal."

The easing of lockdown rules was postponed from 1 August due to concerns about a slight increase in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England.

Last week, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed this may be levelling off.

However, the latest government figures released on Friday showed the number of daily positive tests in the UK was the highest it has been since 14 June.

In the 24-hour period up to 09:00 BST on Friday, there were a further 1,441 confirmed cases, taking the total number to 316,367.

Soft play centres are among the venues able to reopen from 15 August

Under the latest changes:

The prime minister said that plans to open up more of the economy this weekend "will allow more people to return to work and the public to get back to more of the things they have missed".

But Boris Johnson reiterated a warning that the government "will not hesitate to put on the brakes if required, or to continue to implement local measures to help to control the spread of the virus".

In England, face coverings are mandatory in many indoor settings, including public transport, shops and museums, with some exemptions for children or on medical grounds.

Under current guidance, people who refuse to wear a face covering where it is required face a £100 fine, which can be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

The new enforcement measures will see that penalty repeatedly doubled for subsequent offences, up to a maximum of £3,200.

The latest easing of restrictions will not apply in areas where local lockdown measures are in place, the government said.

Local lockdown rules vary from place to place, but since July measures have been introduced in Leicester, Preston, East Lancashire, parts of West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and Aberdeen.

The Department of Health said restrictions on household gatherings in parts of north west England, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester will continue.

Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have the power to set their own timings for the easing of restrictions.

Are you getting married this weekend? Or are you preparing to reopen or go back to work? Share your stories by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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