Some restrictions lifted, but rule-breakers could now face bigger fines
Boris Johnson says he is taking "the first careful steps" in easing the coronavirus lockdown - with people in England allowed to spend more leisure time outside from Wednesday.
In a pre-recorded address to the nation, the prime minister said the government wants to "encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise" - provided they stick to social distancing guidelines and stay two metres apart.
And in a bid to kickstart the economy, Mr Johnson said anyone who cannot work from home - such as those in construction and manufacturing - should be "actively encouraged" to go to work from tomorrow.
The PM stressed that now "is not the time" to end the lockdown altogether - and said the government is simply taking "the first careful steps" to ease certain measures.
Explaining how things will change from Wednesday, he added: "You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household."
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However, Mr Johnson warned that fines are going to be increased for the "small minority" who fail to obey social distancing rules.
And he said that the impact of all of these changes is going to be "closely monitored" at a local, regional and national level, adding: "If there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes."
During the address to the nation, Mr Johnson also said:
He believes children could gradually return to primary school from 1 June at the earliest - beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6
At least some of the hospitality industry and other public places could begin to reopen in July at the earliest "if and only if the numbers support it"
"It will soon be the time" to impose quarantine on people coming into the UK by air
The UK's COVID-19 reproduction rate, also known as R, is between 0.5 and 0.9, "but potentially only just below one"
The lockdown measures "prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst-case scenario was half a million fatalities"
On a new five-stage COVID Alert Level, where one means the disease is no longer present and five is the most critical, the UK is currently at level four and "in a position to begin to move in steps to level three"
The PM stressed that any further relaxation of the lockdown measures "is conditional - it all depends on a series of big ifs".
And in a bid to kickstart the economy, Mr Johnson said anyone who cannot work from home - such as those in construction and manufacturing - should be "actively encouraged" to go to work from tomorrow.
The PM stressed that now "is not the time" to end the lockdown altogether - and said the government is simply taking "the first careful steps" to ease certain measures.
Explaining how things will change from Wednesday, he added: "You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household."
Advertisement
However, Mr Johnson warned that fines are going to be increased for the "small minority" who fail to obey social distancing rules.
And he said that the impact of all of these changes is going to be "closely monitored" at a local, regional and national level, adding: "If there are outbreaks, if there are problems, we will not hesitate to put on the brakes."
During the address to the nation, Mr Johnson also said:
He believes children could gradually return to primary school from 1 June at the earliest - beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6
At least some of the hospitality industry and other public places could begin to reopen in July at the earliest "if and only if the numbers support it"
"It will soon be the time" to impose quarantine on people coming into the UK by air
The UK's COVID-19 reproduction rate, also known as R, is between 0.5 and 0.9, "but potentially only just below one"
The lockdown measures "prevented this country from being engulfed by what could have been a catastrophe in which the reasonable worst-case scenario was half a million fatalities"
On a new five-stage COVID Alert Level, where one means the disease is no longer present and five is the most critical, the UK is currently at level four and "in a position to begin to move in steps to level three"
The PM stressed that any further relaxation of the lockdown measures "is conditional - it all depends on a series of big ifs".