Lodgeroom UK

Lifting of Restrictions
Following the recent Government announcement, we now have some clarity on the timescales for lifting Coronavirus restrictions. The Province remains in suspension following the notice in Bulletin 16 on 2nd December 2020 (including the Isle of Wight), however subject to any unforeseen changes in Government policy, we expect the following timetable to apply to lodge openings:

i. From step 3, which is not earlier than 17th May, we are allowed to meet indoors following the rule of 6. This means from this step we can resume meetings and dinners (under the rule of 6).
ii. From step 4, which is not earlier than 21st June, all COVID restrictions are removed. This means that normal meetings and dinners may resume without any restrictions.

The Deputy Provincial Grand Masters in Charge for both Craft and Royal Arch, under their implied powers, will therefore lift the suspension from 17th May to allow meetings within the above government guidelines.

Full details of the Government’s ‘Roadmap out of Lockdown’ can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... 21-summary

Following the UK Prime Minister’s recent progress update on the roadmap to exit lockdown in England, we have been considering our strategy for a resumption of meetings, while maintaining our commitment to create options which reflect local conditions and accommodate the different needs of our members.

It is important to emphasise that you should only return to meetings when government guidance permits and when you feel it is right for you. No Brother should feel coerced into resuming their masonic activities prematurely.

From 17 May 2021
Units in all Orders will be permitted to hold meetings of up to SIX people subject to government restrictions that may be in force and if the local Head of Order is content to lift the local suspension. This may be agreed on a Centre by Centre basis to reflect the fact that some venues will remain closed for the time being. Separate guidance on ceremonies permitted to be conducted in such meetings will follow shortly.

Larger gatherings of up to THIRTY people may be permitted at venues that have carried out a risk assessment, considered all relevant government guidance and taken all reasonable steps to minimise the risk of transmission. In such cases, the maximum permitted attendance may be restricted to less than thirty if the risk assessment identifies a lower maximum capacity to be appropriate.

In all cases, dining may resume but will be restricted to groups of up to SIX people.

From 21 June 2021
All Units shall be permitted to return to meeting as normal.

Units that cannot resume meeting because the members have indicated they do not wish to do so at this time or are prevented from doing so because their meeting place is not open, may continue to make use of the Virtual Business Meeting scheme until it is possible to recommence physical meetings.

It is not yet clear what restrictions or government guidance will replace existing measures but as soon as these are known, we will issue an update.