PARK LIFE
Brits can meet up with a friend for a coffee outside and have a picnic on March 8 as Covid lockdown is eased
BRITS will be able to meet up with a friend to have a coffee on a park bench and even enjoy a picnic in the first easing of the Covid lockdown on March 8.
Senior government sources claimed the outdoor activities will be the first to get the green light next month - followed by sports such as golf and tennis - as the UK finally begins to lift restrictions.
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Outdoor socialising will be among a host of banned activities that will be allowed from next month.
The only interaction allowed under current rules is for two adults to exercise together.
Park bench coffees and picnics will be able to be enjoyed with anyone from your own household or with one other person.
However, households will still not be allowed to mix inside or outside with anyone else.
But a senior government source revealed to The Sun last night: “One of his first steps will be to relax the rules on people mixing outside.
“The PM thinks there should be no harm in two adults sitting on a park bench to enjoy a coffee and a chat. It’s a small but important step — one he hopes will start to raise people’s spirits.”
The Prime Minister confirmed yesterday that schools were still his priority, followed by opening shops and then hospitality.
Non-essential shops are likely to be allowed to open as they are not believed to have a significant impact on the R rate.
It comes as...
- Covid cases and deaths fell by 27 per cent in a week as 621 more died and 13,308 were infected
- Amanda Holden was reported to police after travelling 215 miles to visit her parents in lockdown
- Door-to-door testing for the South African variant has been extended to three more areas
- All shops could reopen in March if lockdown restrictions are eased
- Scientists are developing a 'universal vaccine' to beat the fast mutating Covid variants
- A Wuhan Covid investigator says China refused to hand over raw data to WHO
Boris Johnson has been optimistic about starting to steer the UK out of lockdown as cases and deaths begin to fall ahead of him laying out his plans on February 22.
However, any reopening will also go alongside "draconian" plans to hit local outbreaks hard with a surge in testing, tracing and isolating anyone with the virus,
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The new crackdowns will be based on measures which were used to track the so-called South African variant in Surrey.
It is reported the government is attempting to develop a "carrot and stick" approach to overcome the virus - with the carrot as lockdowns ease, and the stick to beat down any possible resurgences.
Ministers are looking to mimic Australia which used sweeping lockdown measures in response to just handfuls of cases.
But the tough response has succeeded in keeping the virus down.
The PM will meet with the Cabinet and scientific advisers this week to draw up and finalise the plans as he prepares to address the nation on February 22.
Britain is also believed to be on course to hit its landmark target of 15million vaccinations ahead of schedule.
Mr Johnson is due to hold a Downing Street press conference on Monday to announce the achievement.
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Covid deaths dropped by a quarter this week as 621 people died today and 13,308 tested positive.
The total number of fatalities now stands at 116,908.
Deaths have continued to drop in a tentative sign the lockdown is working and Britain is getting over the darkest days of the pandemic.
Speaking during a visit to the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies plant in Billingham, Teesside, where the new Novavax vaccine will be manufactured, Mr Johnson spoke of his optimism.
He said: "I'm optimistic, I won't hide it from you. I'm optimistic, but we have to be cautious."
He said his first priority was opening schools in England on March 8 followed by non-essential retail and then hospitality venues.
The PM added: "Our children's education is our number one priority, but then working forward, getting non-essential retail open as well and then, in due course, as and when we can prudently, cautiously, of course we want to be opening hospitality as well.
"I will be trying to set out as much as I possibly can in as much detail as I can, always understanding that we have to be wary of the pattern of disease.
"We don't want to be forced into any kind of retreat or reverse ferret."
He echoed Health Secretary Matt Hancock who earlier said the country could live with the virus as it did with flu by the end of the year and make it a treatable disease.
"I do think that in due time, it will become something that we simply live with some people more vulnerable than others, that's inevitable," Mr Johnson said.
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If the R number, which fell below one on Friday for the first time since July, remains low and Covid infections stay at an “acceptable level”, the PM is expected to green light non-essential shops to reopen towards the end of March.
There will then be "another short wait" until hospitality businesses and pubs open.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The Sun revealed on Friday that pubs and restaurants may be able to serve outdoors in April if Covid cases continue to fall.
A government source said: "We will hopefully be sipping pints in the spring sunshine sooner rather than later."
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Boris Johnson says 'he's optimistic' about lifting lockdown and shops and pubs will be prioritised after schools
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