AS non-essential retail and swathes of hospitality businesses reopen their doors this morning, there are still large sections of society that are not allowed to reopen.

It's a huge milestone in the journey back to normality, with both business owners and the public eagerly awaiting the day the high street can reopen. 

But as pubs, shops, hairdressers, tattoo shops and gyms welcome back customers, a range of other businesses face continued uncertainty.

Official guidance hopes all legal limits on social contact will be removed on June 21, with some organisations able to open weeks earlier on May 17.

But this is only if the coronavirus is kept under control, the vaccine roll-out continues at pace and pressure on the NHS is manageable.

It comes as scientists warn there will “never be zero risk” of catching Covid-19, even if all precautions are followed.

People can minimise their risk if they follow guidelines including mask-wearing and social distancing, Dr Mike Tildesley, reader in infectious disease modelling at the University of Warwick said.

Dr Tildesley, a member of the Government’s Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), said any form of reopening “could lead to higher risk”.

Meanwhile, a total of 32,737,372 Covid-19 vaccinations took place in England between December 8 and April 9, according to NHS England data.

In the North-East and Yorkshire, there were 4,265,647 first doses give and 983,593 second doses (5,249,240 in total).

What businesses will NOT reopen today?

  • Cinemas, theatres and concert halls such as Darlington Hippodrome
  • Museums and galleries such as the BALTIC Gateshead 
  • Adventure playgrounds, inflatable parks and soft plays such as Krazy Kingdom, in Durham
  • Amusement arcades and adult gaming centres
  • Adult group sports and exercise classes (indoor), despite gyms reopening 
  • Indoor entertainment like bingo halls, casinos, bowling. For example, Hollywood Bowl in Washington
  • Further games and leisure venues, like escape rooms and laser quest, including  Escape Rooms Durham which hopes to reopen May 20
  • Snooker clubs and pool halls, including Birtley Snooker Club 
  • Water and aqua parks, including the Splash Pad in Chester-le-Street Riverside Park 
  • Indoor facilities, apart from toilets, at pubs and restaurants 
  • Indoor attractions at theme parks, zoos, safaris and aquariums
  • Indoor attractions at stately or historic grounds and heritage sites such as Gibside and Beamish