Groups of six people will be allowed to meet outside in England as Johnson confirms easing of restrictions

GROUPS of up to six people will be allowed to meet outside in England provided they stay two metres apart as Boris Johnson announced a “cautious” easing of lockdown rules.

The Prime Minister confirmed that all five tests required for the next phase of restrictions to begin have been met, meaning more pupils can return to school and outdoor retail and car showrooms can open from Monday in England.

Mr Johnson outlined that people would be able to see “both parents at once, or both grandparents at once” in what he said would be a “long-awaited and joyful moment” for many. Mr Johnson told the daily press conference that people should “try to avoid seeing too many households in quick succession, so we can avoid the risk of quick transmission from lots of different families”.

“It remains the case that people should not be inside the homes of their friends and families, unless it is to access the garden,” he said.

“I should add that, at this stage, I am afraid that those who have been asked to shield themselves should continue to do so.”

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance stressed that the number of new infections is around one in a thousand per week — meaning that “54,000 new cases are occurring every week, so somewhere around eight or so thousand per day”.

He added that “there is not a lot of room to do things”.

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said it was “really important” that people stayed two metres apart when meeting outside — saying that they would not be counted as a contact, and therefore would not need to self-isolate if someone they met at a distance then developed coronavirus.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer backed easing the restrictions, though he raised “serious concerns” about the level of statutory sick pay to support those asked to isolate.