From pubs and gyms to schools, speed limits and social distancing, daily life in the island will take a big step towards the ’new normal’ next week.

The easing of a raft of Covid restrictions will come into force on Monday (June 15).

It will mark the biggest one-day change since the island went into lockdown on March 26 to combat the coronavirus.

Firstly, the legal requirement to social distance - which had been planned to be reduced to one metre - will be removed altogether, except for health and care settings.

Announcing the move at a press briefing yesterday (Thursday), Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ’The time has come to take a big step out of your lives. We know this is a bold step but we believe it is the right one at the right time.

’We are boldly heading to our new Manx normal.’

Mr Quayle said the removal of social distancing will allow society to come back together and enable the economy to thrive.

It will permit major changes to the hospitality industry as well as make it easier for schools to take in more pupils.

Also from Monday, restaurants and cafes will be able to open for indoor dining subject to social distancing, PPE and hygiene safeguards.

And the island’s pubs can open in line with restaurants, offering seated service either indoors or outdoors, with drinks, where there is a ’substantive meal served’.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle has already indicated that pubs may be fully open by June 29.

And he told yesterday’s briefing that he wanted all remaining restrictions on leisure and hospitality, including pubs, clubs, theatres and cinemas, to be removed ’sooner rather than later’.

He said he hoped to make an announcement on this next week following detailed consultation with the industry.

Outdoor gatherings of up to 30 people from different households will be permitted in public places or private gardens from Monday.

This is an increase from the current limit of 10 people and should have a significant impact on sports clubs. The Council of Ministers will on Monday consider further easing of restrictions.

But in the meantime, the current rules remain the same - with the limit of 10 outdoors and a maximum of two allowed to enter another household at any one time.

Gyms will reopen with some adjustments, the island’s hotels can open their doors, while the island’s nurseries and playgroups will be able to accept all children from Monday.

Meanwhile all of the Department of Education’s school sites will reopen and pupils currently at the island’s hub schools will return to their schools on June 17.

Pupils in years 2, 6, 10 and 12 will be invited to return to their schools on June 22. Attendance will be voluntary until September.

Finally the all-island speed limit of 40mph, introduced on March 28 to minimise the load on Noble’s Hospital, will increase to 60mph.