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Boris Johnson has been accused of being too lazy to announce changes to England’s closing rules on Sunday. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tried to elaborate on some of the details in the interviews Monday morning, but not without causing some confusion.
Can you meet with friends and / or family?
Under the above rules, people were not allowed to meet friends or family. Starting Wednesday, people will be able to meet and sit with another person outdoors, if they stay two meters away. Raab caused confusion on Monday when he told BBC Radio 4’s Today show that a person could meet their parents together. The Guardian understands that the guide released later on Monday will make it clear that you are only allowed to meet with one person from another home, be it a friend or family member, at a time.
How often can you go out?
Previous rules limited people to go out once a day to exercise, shop for necessities, attend to medical needs, provide care, or travel to or from work if they are key workers. People are now allowed to do “unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise” and sunbathe. Sports such as tennis, golf, basketball, angling and swimming in lakes and rivers will also be allowed, but only within domestic groups and keeping a distance of two meters from those outside the group. However, when asked Monday whether the new and much-criticized “stay alert” slogan meant staying home as much as possible, Raab replied, “Yes.”
How far can you travel?
The government previously told people to stay local to exercise after complaints that some rural areas were being flooded by walkers and cyclists who had driven from afar. That has changed, Raab told BBC Breakfast. “You can drive as far as you want and walk in a park or in a particular area that you like as long as you maintain social distance,” he said. If people traveled from one part of the UK to another, from England to Wales, for example, they would have to take into account local regulations, he added.
When are people supposed to go back to work?
Johnson drew criticism for urging people who cannot work from home, such as construction and manufacturing, to return to work this week. That was widely interpreted as a demand that people return to work on Monday, raising concerns about the lack of notification along with fears about safety in the workplace and commuting to and from work. Raab said people in nine sectors who cannot work from home should return to their workplace starting Wednesday.
How do the rules differ between the four nations of origin?
The changes announced by Johnson apply to England. In Wales, people are allowed to exercise more than once a day since Monday, but unlike in England, they are not allowed to travel “a significant distance” from home. They are not allowed to sunbathe or meet with others. Garden centers may reopen in Wales starting Monday, provided they can ensure that the two-meter physical distance rule is followed. The councils are also beginning work on plans to safely reopen libraries and municipal recycling centers.
The only change made in Scotland is the removal of the exercise limit once a day starting on Monday. Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said more changes would be considered in the coming days, but the message in Scotland remains “stay home.”
Northern Ireland extended the existing restrictions for another three weeks on Thursday, but Prime Minister Arlene Foster said the changes could be announced in the coming days, including those related to outdoor exercise.
