Boris Johnson wants exercise rules in lockdown relaxed as schools reopen
Boris Johnson wants lockdown exercise rules relaxed but shops, gyms and hairdressers could stay shut until April and pubs might not open until May
- Boris Johnson is planning a roadmap to ease the nation’s strict Covid lockdown
- Last week he admitted that the current lockdown would last until March 8
- Mr Johnson wants schools to be the first to reopen following the lockdown
- He also wants people to exercise regularly to build up their fitness and health
Boris Johnson is considering relaxing lockdown exercise rules to ease the pressure on our physical and mental health.
The Prime Minister has asked officials to draw up options for a slight lifting of the rules, which currently limit people to meeting one other person for outdoor exercise once a day.
Earlier this month Mr Johnson was spotted cycling in the Olympic Park, seven miles away from Downing Street, despite Government restrictions limiting exercise to once a day and ‘you should not travel outside your local area’.
Boris Johnson has asked officials to draw up options for a slight lifting of the rules, which currently limit people to meeting one other person for outdoor exercise once a day
It comes as Boris Johnson was spotted at the Olympic Park seven miles away from Downing Street earlier this month. Pictured, the PM cycling in Beeston last summer
Last week Mr Johnson announced the lockdown would continue until at least March 8, with schools set to be the first facilities to reopen.
Government sources have cautioned that the exit out of lockdown will be slow, with shops, gyms and hairdressers possibly opening in April, while scientists say that pubs and restaurants may be unable to open until May.
But a source familiar with the PM’s thinking said: ‘Schools will be first and everything else will have to take its place after that.
‘The only exception might be exercise. The PM keeps coming back to social contact – is there anything we could do to help a bit? Could we do a bit more on exercise to help with people’s mental health? That is being looked at.’
Possible options include allowing people to meet a friend from another household for outdoor exercise more than once a day.
Alternatively, socially distanced exercise could be permitted in groups of three or four – although this is thought to be harder to police.
Government sources have cautioned that the exit out of lockdown will be slow, with shops, gyms and hairdressers possibly opening in April
Officials will also examine whether outdoor sports that can be social distanced, such as golf and tennis, could be allowed to resume. However, a source said that was unlikely at this stage.
A Cabinet Office task force has begun work on a new ‘road map’ out of lockdown, which will be published in the week beginning February 22.
Ministers this month rejected calls to flesh out the rules surrounding exercise amid concerns their vagueness allowed police leeway to hand out fines too enthusiastically.
That two woman in Derbyshire were fined for driving five miles from their homes for a walk was held as an example of the gray area surrounding the ‘stay local’ advice.
In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has permitted people to travel up to five miles outside their local authority area, and in Northern Ireland, the Executive has placed a 10-mile limit. Wales also has a ‘stay local’ rule.
And Government scientists say that pubs and restaurants may be unable to open until May
