London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Feb 02, 2026

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
Starmer Arrives in Shanghai to Promote British Trade and Investment
Harry Styles, Anthony Joshua and Premier League Stars Among UK’s Top Taxpayers
New Epstein Files Include Images of Former Prince Andrew Kneeling Over Unidentified Woman
Starmer Urges Former Prince Andrew to Testify Before US Congress About Epstein Ties
Starmer Extends Invitation to Japan’s Prime Minister After Strategic Tokyo Talks
Skupski and Harrison Clinch Australian Open Men’s Doubles Title in Melbourne
DOJ Unveils Millions of Epstein Files, Fueling Global Scrutiny of Elite Networks
France Begins Phasing Out Zoom and Microsoft Teams to Advance Digital Sovereignty
China Lifts Sanctions on British MPs and Peers After Starmer Xi Talks in Beijing
Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair to Reorient U.S. Monetary Policy Toward Pro-Growth Interest Rates
AstraZeneca Announces £11bn China Investment After Scaling Back UK Expansion Plans
Starmer and Xi Forge Warming UK-China Ties in Beijing Amid Strategic Reset
Tech Market Shifts and AI Investment Surge Drive Global Innovation and Layoffs
Markets Jolt as AI Spending, US Policy Shifts, and Global Security Moves Drive New Volatility
U.S. Signals Potential Decertification of Canadian Aircraft as Bilateral Tensions Escalate
Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to 20 Months for Bribery
Tesla Ends Model S and X Production and Sends $2 Billion to xAI as 2025 Revenue Declines
China Executes 11 Members of the Ming Clan in Cross-Border Scam Case Linked to Myanmar’s Lawkai
Trump Administration Officials Held Talks With Group Advocating Alberta’s Independence
Starmer Signals UK Push for a More ‘Sophisticated’ Relationship With China in Talks With Xi
Shopping Chatbots Move From Advice to Checkout as Walmart Pushes Faster Than Amazon
Starmer Seeks Economic Gains From China Visit While Navigating US Diplomatic Sensitivities
Starmer Says China Visit Will Deliver Economic Benefits as He Prepares to Meet Xi Jinping
UK Prime Minister Starmer Arrives in China to Bolster Trade and Warn Firms of Strategic Opportunities
The AI Hiring Doom Loop — Algorithmic Recruiting Filters Out Top Talent and Rewards Average or Fake Candidates
Amazon to Cut 16,000 Corporate Jobs After Earlier 14,000 Reduction, Citing Streamlining and AI Investment
Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% as Powell Faces DOJ Criminal Investigation During 2026 Decision
Putin’s Four-Year Ukraine Invasion Cost: Russia’s Mass Casualty Attrition and the Donbas Security-Guarantee Tradeoff
Wall Street Bets on Strong US Growth and Currency Moves as Dollar Slips After Trump Comments
UK Prime Minister Traveled to China Using Temporary Phones and Laptops to Limit Espionage Risks
Google’s $68 Million Voice Assistant Settlement Exposes Incentives That Reward Over-Collection
Kim Kardashian Admits Faking Paparazzi Visit to Britney Spears for Fame in Early 2000s
UPS to Cut 30,000 More Jobs by 2026 Amid Shift to High-Margin Deliveries
France Plans to Replace Teams and Zoom Across Government With Homegrown Visio by 2027
Trump Removes Minneapolis Deportation Operation Commander After Fatal Shooting of Protester
Iran’s Elite Wealth Abroad and Sanctions Leakage: How Offshore Luxury Sustains Regime Resilience
U.S. Central Command Announces Regional Air Exercise as Iran Unveils Drone Carrier Footage
Four Arrested in Andhra Pradesh Over Alleged HIV-Contaminated Injection Attack on Doctor
Hot Drinks, Hidden Particles: How Disposable Cups Quietly Increase Microplastic Exposure
UK Banks Pledge £11 Billion Lending Package to Help Firms Expand Overseas
Suella Braverman Defects to Reform UK, Accusing Conservatives of Betrayal on Core Policies
Melania Trump Documentary Sees Limited Box Office Traction in UK Cinemas
Meta and EssilorLuxottica Ray-Ban Smart Glasses and the Non-Consensual Public Recording Economy
WhatsApp Develops New Meta AI Features to Enhance User Control
Germany Considers Gold Reserves Amidst Rising Tensions with the U.S.
Michael Schumacher Shows Significant Improvement in Health Status
Greenland’s NATO Stress Test: Coercion, Credibility, and the New Arctic Bargaining Game
Diego Garcia and the Chagos Dispute: When Decolonization Collides With Alliance Power
Trump Claims “Total” U.S. Access to Greenland as NATO Weighs Arctic Basing Rights and Deterrence
Air France and KLM Suspend Multiple Middle East Routes as Regional Tensions Disrupt Aviation
×