BBQs and garden parties for ‘bubbles’ of friends and family ‘could be allowed from end of June’

BRITS could be able to meet their friends and families again as garden parties and barbecues are set to be allowed from the end of June, according to reports.

part of Boris Johnson's latest plans for a further relaxation of coronavirus lockdown rules last night, the PM said he wants to allow more "social contact".

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Social distancing rules were already eased earlier this month - allowing two people to meet outside as long as they stay 2m apart from one another.

In Northern Ireland, people can meet in groups of six.

Nicola Sturgeon's plans for Scotland, which she unveiled last week, included tweaks to allow people to go into each other's gardens.

Boris Johnson unveiled the plans during Monday's Cabinet meeting.

He hailed relaxing of the lockdown as a step on the road to "rebuilding our country" and urged Brits to "spend" to help the economy to "bounce back".

The new relaxation measures will pave the way for millions of people to head back to work.

It means clothes shops, department stores and independent retailers can finally break free of the lockdown, imposed since March 23.

Mr Johnson said people should "get out and enjoy themselves in the open air from June 1" if they can.

The new proposals may be part of a wider move to allow people to mix in "social bubbles" of up to 10 people outdoors.

In his roadmap out of the lockdown the PM announced:

• Markets and car showrooms will be back in business by June 1
• Other non-essential shops will reopen their doors from June 15
• Brits are set to be able to see groups of up to 10 pals in ‘social bubbles’ next month
• Reception, Year One and Year Six pupils will return to school by June 1

'SOCIAL BUBBLES'

The Government’s 50-page roadmap to end the lockdown suggested that people can designate another household to socialise with.

The document reads: "The intention of this change would be to allow those who are isolated some more social contact, and to reduce the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions, while continuing to limit the risk of chains of transmission."

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) is understood to have advised ministers that infection from coronavirus is much less likely outdoors.

"This could be based on the New Zealand model of household 'bubbles' where a single ‘bubble’ is the people you live with."

In addition, the Government is also examining how to enable people to gather in slightly larger groups to better facilitate small weddings.
"Over the coming weeks, the Government will engage on the nature and timing of the measures in this step, in order to consider the widest possible array of views on how best to balance the health, economic and social effects," the document said.

The PM said the relaxation of measures was possible as infection rates have remained low and he thanked Brits for following social distancing rules.

We are looking at ways in which we can ease some social restrictions, so we can have some social contact.

Senior government source

According to the latest figures, 261,184 people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19 and 36,914 have died.

Mr Johnson said at the Downing Street press conference yesterday: "We are making good progress, but that progress is conditional, provisional.

"We must keep reducing the incidence of this disease."

A senior government source said last night: "We are looking at ways in which we can ease some social restrictions, so we can have some social contact."

From June 1, Reception, Year One and Year Six pupils will return to school, Mr Johnson said.

Year 10 and Year 12 students are expected to go back to their classes on June 15.

Outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to get back to business from June 1.

The Prime Minister said: "I want to give the retail sector notice of our intentions to reopen shops, so they too can get ready.

"So I can announce that it is our intention to allow outdoor markets to reopen from June 1, subject to all premises being made Covid-secure, as well as car showrooms, which often have significant outdoor space and where it is generally easier to apply social distancing.

We know that the transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and that it is easier to follow Covid-secure guidelines in open spaces.

Boris Johnson

"We know that the transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and that it is easier to follow Covid-secure guidelines in open spaces.

"That means we can also allow outdoor markets to reopen in a safe way that does not risk causing a second wave of the virus."

All other non-essential shops -  from department stores to small independent shops -will be allowed to reopen their doors from June 15.

Shops flouting coronavirus guidelines will be punished, he warned.

It comes after Mr Johnson announced on Sunday that schools will start reopening from June 1.

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