Coronavirus: Picnics and countryside trips around Portsmouth to be allowed in first stage of lockdown release

As part of UK’s first stage of exiting lockdown, people will be able to exercise several times a day, head to the countryside for walks and enjoy picnics.

The lifting of stay-at-home measures could come as early as this month if coronavirus infection rates continue to decline, the Mail on Sunday reported.

However, ministers said this would still only be within members of the same households, and separate groups must remain at least two metres apart.

The news follows scientific advice which suggested that transmission risks outside are understood to be ‘significantly lower’ than indoors.

The move could soon put an end to controversial scenes of police officers moving on solo sunbathers.

Under the measures, places where maintaining two-metre distancing is more difficult, such as popular beaches and playgrounds, will remain off limits.

Meanwhile, breaches of any rules could be met by stricter penalties with spot fines jumping from £60 to more than £3,000 for anybody caught offending repeatedly.

A review of the current clampdown will be announced on Thursday by Boris Johnson with no significant changes expected to be made immediately.

The death toll from Covid-19 rose by more than 600 yesterday and passed 28,000.

Mr Johnson is likely to push a ‘road map’ of when things would reopen rather than specific dates and times although public transport, non-food retailers, factories, warehouses and more construction sites could be encouraged to open.

Formal guidance advising the wearing of face masks to work is also expected to be announced with firms instructed to continue home working where possible.

Pubs and restaurants will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

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