Covid restrictions relaxed allowing up to six people to meet in gardens and private open spaces

Meeting friends in garden spaces

A relaxation of the restrictions on public life to reduce the spread of coronavirus will mean that groups of up to six people from different households will be able to meet in gardens and private outdoor spaces, maintaining social distancing, as from Monday (June 1).

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the public briefing today (May 28). He also confirmed the phased reopening of schools for early years, Reception, Years One and Six from June 1 and face to face time for secondary students in Years 10 and 12 from June 15.

The June 1 date will also see the reopening of outdoor retail and markets and car showrooms and from June 15 non-essential retail as long as spaces have Covid secure measures.

PM Boris Johnson said all the changes were conditional on scientific advice.

He also warned of possible local outbreaks which could result in local lockdowns.

However the R rate – the rate of infection – needs to stay below 1 but scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance said the rate was still ‘very close to one.’

The PM said: “From Monday we will allow up to six people to meet outside – provided those from different households continue strictly to observe social distancing rules by staying two metres apart.

“At the moment, as you know, people can meet in parks but not in private gardens. This was a cautious first step – but we know that there is no difference in the health risk. So we will now allow people to meet in gardens and other private outdoor spaces.

“These changes mean friends and family can start to meet their loved ones – perhaps seeing both parents at once, or both grandparents at once. I know that for many this will be a long-awaited and joyful moment.

“But I must stress that to control the virus, everyone needs to stay alert, act responsibly, strictly observe social distancing rules, and stay two metres apart from those who you do not live with.

“Minimising contact with others is still the best way to prevent transmission. You should also try to avoid seeing people from too many households in quick succession – so that we can avoid the risk of quick transmission from lots of different families and continue to control the virus.

“And it remains the case that people should not be inside the homes of their friends and families, unless it is to access the garden.

“I should add that, at this stage, I am afraid that those who have been asked to shield themselves should continue to do so.”

The PM said a huge step in progress had now also been made with the NHS test and trace service which:

  • ensures that anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can quickly be tested to find out if they have the virus, and also includes targeted asymptomatic testing of NHS and social care staff and care home residents
  • helps trace close recent contacts of anyone who tests positive for coronavirus and, if necessary, notifies them that they must self-isolate at home to help stop the spread of the virus

The service will allow the spread of the virus to be traced and those with new infections to be isolated while giving an early warning if the virus is increasing again, locally or nationally.

9 Comments

  1. I thought that Boris had done a great job, up until this week. But now, with the confusing messages about what is, and isn’t allowed, and now the obvious protection of Dominic Cummings,he just looks silly now.

    He can no longer be trusted, it makes you wonder, what other lies may have been told by any minister, about any matter.

    If Boris won’t get Cummings out, then the Tories should get out.

    Boris the burke.

  2. The best job that Boris did was getting CV and staying out of things fir a few weeks.
    Otherwise, a catalogue of disasters.
    Didn’t attend COBRA meetings when CV kicked off.
    Went on holiday instead.
    Introduced a waffley half heated lockdown two weeks too late.
    Introduced a “proper” lockdown a week later.
    Stopped testing and tracking.
    Can’t blame him for the lack of PPE: that was under Jeremy Hunt’s watch.
    Eased up on lockdown far too early. Replaced “Stay at home” (clear, simple, to the point) with “Stay alert” (meaning what, exactly)
    Sending children back to school too soon.
    Backed Cummins.
    Eased back on lockdown even more.

    We’re not ready for it. The “R” number is too high.

  3. I’m not Tory but a few weeks ago I begrudgingly agreed that he was doing his best and then he decided to hold a press conference to answer questions about Dominic Cummings. What a contradictory jumble! Then today he actually refused to allow medical experts clear up confusions. To cap it, I just discovered today that the government are saying that if teachers from Monday come in contact with a Covid infected child in class then they don’t have to isolate unless they develop symptoms. WTF is going on!

  4. So now I can meet some friends and family in a small group in the garden, at 6 foot distances.
    But schoolchildren will have to meet together in a small enclosed classroom for hours at a time.

    Have I missed something?

  5. The biggest risk factor for a serious reaction to CV for those without underlying health conditions is beingnoverweight and unfit, they are the ones that will overburden the nhs and cause the unexplainable excess deaths, add on the obvious connection between diabetes and poorcv outcomes and again excess weight has a lot to do with it. But as a nation we’ve decided to accept fat as being normal and healthy or completely beyond a persons control. Whilst there are undoubtedly a small number of cases where self control and exercise wouldn’t solve the issue for the vast majority it would. Unlike smoking the burden excess weight places on the nhs and wider society has no tax revenue specifically from the causitive product to off set that cost.
    Anyone not willing to deal with the problem is part of it. Its just unfortynate that its politically impossible to deal with as there are too many “big” voters. But in the meantime we’ll be hearing from all the various pressure groups pushing their agendas on race, ethnicity, poverty,education, deprivation etc etc , all of whom will choose not to consider some of the basic medical complications.

    • What a terrible thing to say. Yes, some people are overweight because of their chosen lifestyle, but some are affected due to medical conditions, that mean they can no longer walk/run/exercise.

      People don’t choose to be diabetic, or have heart and/or lung conditions, they don’t choose to have high blood pressure, or even cancer, which puts them in the more at risk category.

      Perhaps you should think about what you say, before making a comment in future.

      • Its a basic fact , in my comment i accepted that there are a few that have issues beyond their control, however there are huge numbers who choose not to do something. As a nation the rates of those overweight or obese is completely disproportionate to what it was in the past. People choose to consume too many calories in 95% of cases. The cost to society as a whole is around 27 billion a year its not inconceivable that this figure could be halved purely through personal responsibility and self control.
        Or are we to sit back and watch the country collapse trying to fund the consequences of an ever ballooning population.
        Its an unfortunate reality that needs to be accepted.

      • Then there is the link between type 2 diabetes and weight/diet, if there are conditions over which many sufferers have a degree of control diabetes is one in which the sufferers behaviour and attitude can make a huge difference. However far too many instead just expect to carry on and leave the consequences to the nhs and society.

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