The ‘social bubble’ bursts again!
The ‘social bubble’ bursts again! Brits hit beauty spots and high streets and traffic surges to 94% of pre-lockdown levels as temperatures soar to 77F on second day families are allowed to meet again after restrictions were lifted
- Rising temperatures and sunny spells have returned to the UK this weekend after days of torrential rain
- Britons have taken to Winchester High Street and Battersea Park, London to enjoy the 77F temperatures
- Comes ahead of the High Street reopening to the public tomorrow after weeks of closure amid coronavirus
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
By Faith Ridler For Mailonline
Published: 08:50 EDT, 14 June 2020 | Updated: 11:41 EDT, 14 June 2020
Britons flocked to beauty spots and high streets today as temperatures soared to 77F on the second day families were allowed to meet again after coronavirus restrictions were eased this weekend.
TomTom data showed traffic around Liverpool was at 94 per cent of pre-lockdown levels at 4pm on Sunday as people took to parks and beaches amid warm temperatures this afternoon.
In London, congestion surged to 51 per cent of figures recorded a year earlier – as roads in Brighton rose to 63 per cent of capacity seen at the same time in 2019 this afternoon.
The latest transport data came as dozens of Britons gathered on Winchester high street in anticipation of shops reopening for business tomorrow after weeks of closure amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Social distancing banners reading ‘Please keep your distance’ were seen in preparation for the UK’s high streets coming back to life from tomorrow, with non-essential retailers allowed to open their doors for the first time since March.
In Southampton, shoppers lined the city centre as NHS workers waited to enter a Sports Direct which had opened its doors a day early in a priority shopping day for those on the Covid-19 frontline.
Other Britons took the opportunity to travel to some of Britain’s beauty spots, including Battersea Park in London and Bournemouth beach, to enjoy the warmer weather as the mercury rose to 73F (23C) in the capital today.
Pubs around the country also took advantage of a much-needed boost in customer numbers as revellers were seen waiting in queues to buy cold beers and other drinks from outdoor booths.
These people are taking advantage of Boris Johnson’s new ‘support bubbles’ rule, which allows people from two households to interact with each other at less than two metres apart.
From June 13, people itching to socialise after being confined to their homes since the ‘stay at home’ order was given on March 23 were able to enjoy the outdoors with their families.
Britons enjoy takeaway beer as they stroll through Battersea Park in London amid warmer temperatures this afternoon
Others took to bicycles as they exercised in Battersea Park after coronavirus restrictions were further eased this month
Londoners photographed enjoying the sunshine at Battersea Park this morning, with warm weather increasing the number of people out and about
Londoners order drinks from outside the Prince of Wales pub in Battersea as Britons enjoy the warmer weekend in lockdown
A social distancing sign the high street in Winchester, ahead of the re-opening of non-essential retailers in England on June 15
Britons wait in a long queues outside a Sports Direct store in Southampton today ahead of stores reopening tomorrow
Sports Direct had opened the store today between the hours of 11am and 3pm as a priority day for NHS staff only
Bournemouth Beach was busy with families keeping their distance from each other as the temperature rose again today
Other Britons set up wind shields and tents on the sand as they prepared to spend a day on the beach with friends
The mercury could rise to as high as 79F (26C) in London today, and just below in many other areas including Birmingham, Manchester and York
The mercury hit 77F (25C) in parts of western Scotland this afternoon, with Cambridgeshire also recording highs of 75F (24C).
Elsewhere, warm sunny spells were interrupted with a scattering of showers in the West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The rain is expected to die out overnight as the cloud moves into eastern parts of the UK, northern England and Scotland.
There were yellow weather warnings in place for thunderstorms across Northern Ireland this afternoon, as the Met Office warned there was a ‘small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.’
Forecasters also said there was a ‘slight chance’ power cuts could take place between 1pm and 9pm due to storms over Londonderry and Donegal.
‘The picture is not really changing into early next week as the unsettled weather continues,’ Met Office spokesperson Nicola Maxey told MailOnline. ‘We’re likely to see a mix of sunshine and strong showers, with a risk of thunderstorms for the first half of next week.’
England in particular has been beset by rainfall in recent days, with more than double the amount of water falling in the first 10 days of this month, compared to all of May.
Last month was the warmest May on record with global temperatures 1.13F (0.63C) above average, according to the European Union’s climate change monitor.
TomTom data showed roads around Liverpool were 94 per cent of pre-lockdown levels at 4pm today as Britons took to parks amid warm temperatures this afternoon
In London, traffic surged to 51 per cent of figures recorded a year earlier, but remained similar to congestion recorded last week
Congestion in Brighton rose to 63 per cent of data seen at the same time in 2019 at 4pm this afternoon (seen above)
A social distancing sign asking shoppers to remain two metres apart is seen in Winchester ahead of shops reopening tomorrow
People walk past Debenhams department store on the high street in Winchester, ahead of the re-opening of non-essential retailers in England on June 15
Friends enjoy a drink in Battersea Park this morning as they soak up the sun with more and more Britons out and about
People queue outside a pub in Windsor this afternoon as many head outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures
Crowds of walkers and families headed to Windsor this afternoon as lots of people got back to normal life as lockdown continues to be eased
Temperatures are expected to remain high today, encouraging Britons to take to parks and meet up with friends after lockdown restrictions were eased
Londoners walk past a cafe selling ice cream to day trippers as they headed out to enjoy the warmer weather after downpours
Britons relax in groups on the grass in south west London as coronavirus restrictions continue to ease across the UK
Battersea Park was busy with Londoners heading out to enjoy the sunshine as traffic congestion surged this weekend
It comes Rishi Sunak today revealed ministers are ‘urgently’ looking at whether the two metre social distancing rules can be relaxed to boost shops and allow more pubs and restaurants to reopen.
In a clear sign he would like the rule eased, the Chancellor admitted he could see the ‘positive impact’ of reducing it to 1.5metres or one metre, citing other nations which have already made such a change.
He told Sky’s Ridge on Sunday: ‘It’s the difference between three quarters and maybe a third of pubs opening. So it is importantly that we look at it.
‘Now that we have made good progress in suppressing the virus we are at a different stage in the epidemic than we were at the beginning. That enables us to take a fresh look at this.
‘Obviously many other countries around the world use a different rule and indeed we have seen a couple of countries recently – I think Norway and Denmark – have moved from two metres to something less as well.
‘But is it important we look at it comprehensively in the round and that is what we will do urgently.’
Dozens gathered on Bournemouth beach today as temperatures began to rise again following a week of downpours
Car parks were packed at Sandbanks Beach in Dorset as Britons took to the beach to swim with their families this afternoon
A group of Londoners sit on a bench to enjoy a takeaway beer near to a pub in Battersea this afternoon
An elderly couple sit on a table and chairs in the scenic park as they join dozens who flocked to the beauty spot today
A woman carries a drink in a plastic cup as she walks through a packed Battersea Park with a friend this afternoon
Britons shared cartons full of takeaway beer purchased from nearby pubs on Sunday, as the mercury hit 73F (23C) in London
As well as people out and about enjoying the nicer weather, people gathered in Glasgow today to protect statues from vandalism
Demonstrators hold up signs during a Black Lives Matter protest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, in Leeds
One group of friends sit in the shade and enjoy pints of beer in Battersea Park today. Temperatures hit 23C in the capital today
During the spells of sunshine today, the mercury could rise to as high as 79F (26C) in London, and just below in many other areas including Birmingham, Manchester and York. Pictured: two men enjoy pints in Battersea this afternoon
He added: ‘I can very much understand the positive impact it will have on businesses’ ability to open and thereby maintain the jobs that they have and make sure the people who work for them can come back to those jobs and remain employed. At the same time we must make sure it is safe to do so.’
Mr Sunak had earlier appealed to British shoppers to get out there and spend some money appealing to them to ‘get out there, get shopping’ amid the worst economic decline in generations, with GDP plummeting by a quarter in just two months.
The lifting of further restrictions this week is designed to help the UK’s ‘many lonely or isolated people’ who are seen as struggling the most during the months-long lockdown.
The PM said: ‘I know how how difficult the past months have been for people cut off from their family and friends.
‘There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are by themselves and struggling’.
Some Londoners were photographed enjoying a drink outside The Prince of Wales pub in Battersea in South West London this afternoon
One group of women gathered in Battersea Park this morning for what looked like a birthday party. Many were out to enjoy the good weather
People in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, queue up to get a coffee ahead of the reopening of non-essential retailers tomorow
Bournemouth beach today where people are out swimming and exercising as many get out and about to enjoy the warmer weather
People enjoy the warm weather in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, following the introduction of measures to bring England out of lockdown
Londoners are pictured enjoying a drink outside The Prince of Wales pub in Battersea, south west London this afternoon
He admitted that there would be many people disappointed by the restrictions on eligibility but cautioned that the change was not an excuse for a free-for-all.
‘We are making this change to support those who are particularly lonely as a result of lockdown measures,’ he said. ‘It’s a targeted intervention to limit the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions.
‘It is emphatically not designed for people who don’t qualify to start meeting inside other people’s homes, because that remains against the law.’
Mr Johnson also confirmed zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas would re-open if they abide by social distancing rules.
Churches and other religious buildings can also re-open for individual worship, but there was no further announcements in relation to the opening of pubs.
