Boris Johnson to tell Brits they can have picnics and unlimited outdoor exercise from Monday as lockdown is relaxed

BRITS are to be set free to enjoy unlimited exercise from MONDAY.

Cafes could re-open and outdoor spaces soon after, in an easing of lockdown restrictions. Park picnics may also be on again, as long as people stay two metres apart.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

4

4

4

The relaxation of the coronavirus lockdown is the first of many that the PM plans to roll out week by week to reward long-suffering Brits.

Mr Johnson will unveil his long-awaited “unlockdown” plan on Sunday to gradually end the nation’s virtual house arrest.

Aides say he will make clear the vast bulk of restrictions will remain for some weeks.

But he will announce everyone can take “unlimited exercise” from Monday. Currently people are only allowed to go out for one form a day.

Friends and family will be allowed to have park picnics and sit on benches - if they keep two metres apart. The move will let them get together on the grass without fear of being harassed, stared at or moved on.

The measures could also come into effect next week, possibly as early as Monday.

The Government is also looking at allowing people to play non-contact sports such as golf and tennis.

A senior source told The Sun: “The PM wants people to know that all the effort they’ve put in is delivering progress, that six weeks of doing nothing has been worthwhile.

'UNLIMITED EXERCISE'

“So we can now let off the brake a bit, and see what happens. If people abide by the new rules, we can then let off the brake a little bit more.”

Mr Johnson will also try to persuade bosses to allow work to resume in sectors that were not told they must close.

They include construction sites as well as some retail outlets, including dry cleaners and ­takeaways such as McDonald’s.

Mr Johnson wants to put timelines on when Brits can expect measures to take effect “where he can”, sources said.

One key date he is pushing to announce is for a staggered return to schools, with the ­current target being June 1.

But the PM will insist there is no spike in the R rate — the measure of how many people an infected person passes the bug on to.

It also emerged yesterday he is preparing to unveil a new slogan for Phase Two of the battle.

Officials ordered all their teams to remove the current one — “Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives” — from websites and social media on Saturday night.

Revealing his plan to announce the initial easing of lockdown, the PM told MPs yesterday: “We have to be sure the data is going to support our ability to do this. That data is coming in continuously over the next few days. We want if we possibly can to get going with some of these measures on Monday.”

Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested that as lockdown measures are eased the public could return to pavement cafes.

"There is strong evidence that outdoors the spread is much, much lower, so there may be workarounds that some businesses, for instance cafes, especially over the summer, may be able to put into place," he told Sky News.

Meanwhile, van drivers may have to sit up front on their own under tough new guidance on work vehicles. A crackdown on passengers will also affect truckers and delivery drivers.

Employers will be sent diagrams showing how many workers should be in vehicles to help shield against the virus.

Drafts of the guidance — shared with industry leaders ­earlier this week — say only the driver should sit up front.

It advises a maximum of two people in each vehicle, though that can be more if they are from the same household.

CRACKDOWN ON PASSENGERS

The advice says vans without back seats should have just a driver up front, with other workers encouraged to travel separately. Vehicles with three seats in the front can have a passenger on the far side only.

The new guidelines will affect a host of workers including taxi drivers, who will not be able to fill a five-seater under the plans.

Work vehicles would also have to be frequently cleaned, with hand sanitisers for workers getting in and out.

The guidance, due to be sent out next week, will also encourage staff at distribution centres and depots to avoid close ­interaction with the driver.

First Secretary Dominic Raab will today confirm that the ­Government is extending the lockdown again as he announces the results of its second review.

By law, ministers must review it every three weeks.

But Mr Raab will ask the nation to wait for the PM’s announcement on Sunday to find out more.

4

MOST READ IN UK NEWS

KILL BUILD

Terrifying rise of ‘ghost guns’ that can be knocked up by thugs in garden sheds

VILE KILLER

Chilling moment man who beat partner to death tells cops ‘I know it’s not good’

HORROR MAULING

Baby girl 'picked up like a rag doll and shaken' by family’s XL Bully

'MISSED BY SO MANY'

Woman killed after being hit by car as husband pays tribute to 'angel'

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick last night called for work on construction and big transport projects to restart if safety measures are in place.

After complaints from regional mayors, Mr Jenrick said it is the Government’s “strong preference” that lockdown measures are lifted at the same time across the country.

But he told the No10 daily press briefing that local restrictions could be reimposed if there was a new outbreak.

• GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]