London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Nov 02, 2025

Covid-19: Boris Johnson warns against mixing indoors as Easter weekend begins

Covid-19: Boris Johnson warns against mixing indoors as Easter weekend begins

People should not socialise indoors with other households even if they are vaccinated, Boris Johnson has said.

As the Easter Bank Holiday weekend began, the PM said "we're not yet at that stage" as coronavirus vaccines "are not giving 100% protection".

Police forces across England have also called for people to obey the rules over the bank holiday.

It is the first weekend since England's rules were relaxed to allow outside gatherings of more than two people.

With groups of up to six or two households allowed to meet, councils and police forces are preparing for beauty spots and parks to be busy.

But, despite unseasonably warm weather earlier this week, the weekend is forecast to be mild before temperatures drop further from Sunday, with a warning of snow in northern Scotland.

Rules have also recently been relaxed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - with people also allowed to meet outside in small groups.

In a video published on Twitter to answer questions about the rule changes, the prime minister addressed the question: Can I meet family and friends indoors if they are vaccinated?

"I'm afraid the answer is no, because we're not yet at that stage," he said.

"We're still very much in a world where you can meet friends and family outdoors under the rule of six or two households.

"And even though your friends and family members may be vaccinated, the vaccines are not giving 100% protection, and that's why we just need to be cautious.

"We don't think that they entirely reduce or remove the risk of transmission."

He later tweeted: "This Easter weekend, please remember that outdoors is generally much safer than indoors."

People wrapped in blankets as they took a punt tour along the River Cam in Cambridge on Good Friday
And despite the milder weather, people gathered on Brighton Beach

More than 4.9 million people in the UK have now been fully vaccinated - receiving both doses - while 31.3 million first doses have been given.

Pfizer said its vaccine prevented 91% of coronavirus cases in the six months after people are given their second dose.

Meanwhile, a recent study found a single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab offered 76% protection for three months, and this went up to 82% after the second dose.

Police warnings


Several police forces have also issued warnings ahead of the bank holiday. The Metropolitan Police said officers will be "highly visible" in open spaces in London to remind people in groups of more than six that they could be fined.

"After a long and difficult few months, let's not undo all of that hard work now," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors.

"We can expect to see parks and beauty spots busier than usual," she said, adding: "Don't crowd in open spaces and do follow the rule of six, or, only meet up with one other household."

Other forces have said they will be patrolling parks and beaches, with Merseyside Police planning to remind people that alcohol is banned at some beaches.

Also pleading with people to follow the rules, Sussex Police said: "Warm blankets and hot drinks are the way forward this weekend - not bringing friends or family into your home."

Meanwhile, Police Scotland said if anyone was visiting their local beauty spots, they should do "safely and respectfully".

Rules have been relaxed in Scotland, where the "stay at home" order has been lifted and replaced with "stay local".

In Wales, since last weekend people have been allowed to meet groups of six or two households outdoors, as well as travel within the country for holidays with their own household.

In Northern Ireland, up to six people from two households are allowed to meet in a private garden and 10 people in public spaces.

It comes as a further 52 people died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus, according to UK government figures released on Friday - although the data does not include Wales.

The number of cases has increased by 3,402 - the lowest since mid-September.

Police officers monitored people enjoying the warm weather on Wednesday at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham
The small strip of sand at Chalkwell Beach, Southend, appeared busy on Wednesday
Earlier this week, parks an beaches were busy as the UK saw a spell of warm weather, including its hottest March day since 1968 as temperatures topped 24.5C on Tuesday.

Two parks in Nottingham were closed after large crowds failed to socially distance and left rubbish behind.

Forecasters predict that this weekend will be milder, ahead of air from the Arctic moving in from Sunday night and bringing colder weather across the UK - with even gales and snow possible in some areas.

A yellow weather warning predicting heavy snow showers has been issued for northern Scotland from 18:00 BST on Sunday.


Nottingham City Council leader blamed a "selfish minority" for the "extremely disappointing" scenes


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
King Charles Relocates Andrew to Sandringham Estate and Strips Titles Amid Epstein Fallout
Two Arrested After Mass Stabbing on UK Train Leaves Ten Hospitalised
Glamour UK Says ‘Stay Mad Jo x’ After Really Big Rowling Backlash
Former Prince Prince Andrew Faces Possible U.S. Congressional Appearance Over Jeffrey Epstein Inquiry
UK Faces £20 Billion Productivity Shortfall as Brexit’s Impact Deepens
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves Eyes New Council-Tax Bands for High-Value Homes
UK Braces for Major Storm with Snow, Heavy Rain and Winds as High as 769 Miles Wide
U.S. Secures Key Southeast Asia Agreements to Reshape Rare Earth Supply Chains
US and China Agree One-Year Trade Truce After Trump-Xi Talks
BYD Profit Falls 33 % as Chinese EV Maker Doubles Down on Overseas Markets
US Philanthropists Shift Hundreds of Millions to UK to Evade Regulatory Uncertainty in Trump Era
Israeli Energy Minister Delays $35 Billion Gas Export Agreement with Egypt
King Charles Strips Prince Andrew of Titles and Royal Residence
Trump–Putin Budapest Summit Cancelled After Moscow Memo Raises Conditions for Ukraine Talks
Amazon Shares Soar 11% as Cloud Business Hits Fastest Growth Since 2022
Credit Markets Flooded with More Than $200 Billion of AI-Linked Debt Issuance
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Says China Made 'a Real Mistake' by Threatening Rare-Earth Exports
Report Claims Nearly Two Billion Dollars in Foreign Charity Funds Flowed into U.S. Advocacy Groups
White House Refutes Reports That US Targeting Military Sites in Venezuela
Meta Seeks Dismissal of Strike 3’s $350 Million Copyright Lawsuit
Apple Exceeds Forecasts With $102.5 Billion Q3 Revenue Despite iPhone Miss
Israel's IDF Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi Admits to Act Amounting to Aiding Hamas During Wartime (Treason)
Shawbrook IPO Marks London’s Biggest UK Listing in Two Years
UK Government Split Over Backing Brazil’s $125 Billion Tropical Forest Fund Ahead of COP30
J.K. Rowling Condemns Glamour UK Feature of Nine Trans Women as 'Men Better at Being Women'
King Charles III Removes Prince Andrew’s Titles and Orders His Departure from Royal Lodge
UK Finance Minister Reeves Releases Email Correspondence to Clarify Rental-Licence Breach
UK and Vietnam Sign Landmark Migration Deal to Fast-Track Returns of Irregular Arrivals
UK Drug-Pricing Overhaul Essential for Life-Sciences Ambition, Says GSK Chief
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Temporarily Leave the UK Amid Their Parents’ Royal Fallout
UK Weighs Early End to Oil and Gas Windfall Tax as Reeves Seeks Investment Commitments
UK Retail Inflation Slows as Shop Prices Fall for First Time Since Spring
Next Raises Full-Year Profit Guidance After Strong Third-Quarter Performance
Reform UK’s Lee Anderson Admits to 'Gaming' Benefits System While Advocating Crackdown
United States and South Korea Conclude Major Trade Accord Worth $350 Billion
Hurricane Melissa Strikes Cuba After Devastating Jamaica With Record Winds
Vice President Vance to Headline Turning Point USA Campus Event at Ole Miss
U.S. Targets Maritime Narco-Routes While Border Pressure to Mexico Remains Limited
Bill Gates at 70: “I Have a Real Fear of Artificial Intelligence – and Also Regret”
Elon Musk Unveils Grokipedia: An AI-Driven Alternative to Wikipedia
Saudi Arabia Unveils Vision for First-Ever "Sky Stadium" Suspended Over Desert Floor
Amazon Announces 14 000 Corporate Job Cuts as AI Investment Accelerates
UK Shop Prices Fall for First Time Since March, Food Leads the Decline
London Stock Exchange Group ADR (LNSTY) Earns Zacks Rank #1 Upgrade on Rising Earnings Outlook
Soap legend Tony Adams, long-time star of Crossroads, dies at 84
Rachel Reeves Signals Tax Increases Ahead of November Budget Amid £20-50 Billion Fiscal Gap
NatWest Past Gains of 314% Spotlight Opportunity — But Some Key Risks Remain
UK Launches ‘Golden Age’ of Nuclear with £38 Billion Sizewell C Approval
UK Announces £1.08 Billion Budget for Offshore Wind Auction to Boost 2030 Capacity
UK Seeks Steel Alliance with EU and US to Counter China’s Over-Capacity
×