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People in the UK should not treat this weekend as a “party” before the new “rule of six” coronavirus restrictions go into effect on Monday, a police union warned.
The Police Federation said there is a “real risk” that the public “will take advantage of the current situation.”
The new rules limit meetings to six people indoors and outdoors in England.
It comes when a scientist warned that the UK was “on the brink of losing control” of the virus.
The new rule of six in England applies both indoors and outdoors and for all ages, although there are some exceptions, such as work meetings. Those who do not follow the new rules can be fined by the police: £ 100 for the first offense, doubling each additional offense up to £ 3,200.
In Scotland, socializing will be limited to a maximum of six people inside and outside, but unlike England, they must be from two households and children under 12 are exempt.
In Wales, also as of Monday, it will be illegal for more than six people from an extended household to meet indoors, but up to 30 can still meet outdoors. Northern Ireland has not announced any changes to the rules.
‘Incredibly irresponsible’
With the introduction of the new rules in England and Wales delayed until Monday, John Apter, President of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “There is a real risk that some members of the public will take advantage of the current situation and Treat this weekend like a party weekend before the tighter restrictions to be introduced on Monday.
“Using the current situation as an opportunity and an excuse to party would be incredibly irresponsible and would put pressure not only on the police, but potentially on the ambulance service and the NHS.”
On Friday, the government announced there were another 3,539 cases of coronavirus in the UK, the highest number since May 17.
The virus is still at much lower levels in the UK than it was at its peak in April, but a study of thousands of people in England found that cases double every seven to eight days.
Professor Sir Mark Walport, a member of the government’s Sage scientific advisory group, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “One would have to say that we are on the verge of losing control.
“You just have to look across the Channel to see what is happening in France and what is happening in Spain.”
Meanwhile, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the rule of six was “well understood” as a public health message and had public support.
“As always, the important thing is balance – eating out, seeing friends – that’s fine, as long as we do it in a socially responsible way, that’s what the rule of six is all about,” he told the BBC.
He added that “a certain degree of self-discipline and restraint” was necessary to deal with the challenges posed by the increasing number of coronavirus cases in England, and the growing R number, which measures the speed at which the virus is spreading. transmitted.
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The R number has risen to between 1 and 1.2 for the first time since March. Any number above one indicates that the number of infections is increasing.
And in addition to an overall increase in cases in the community, the latest government coronavirus surveillance report shows a sharp increase in people older than 85 who test positive.
When asked about Professor Walport’s statement that the UK was “losing control”, Gove said it was “a warning to all of us”.
“There is a variety of scientific opinions, but one thing that virtually all scientists agree on is that we have seen an increase in infection and therefore it is appropriate that we take public health action.”
It comes after people across England told BBC News that they are struggling to access coronavirus testing.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last week that no one should have to travel more than 75 miles for a test, after the BBC revealed that some were being sent hundreds of miles away.
But some have now reported that they can’t reserve a swab at all.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the testing capacity was aimed at the worst affected areas.
