One-metre rule? There’s hardly an inch to spare!
There were astonishing scenes yesterday as thousands of sunseekers packed beaches on the hottest day of the year in total disregard to the threat of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he was trusting in the ‘common sense’ of the British people to overcome Covid-19, but little of that was on display at the seaside.
Social distancing was impossible as revellers packed the beach at Bournemouth, seemingly oblivious to the possibility of picking up the virus still in circulation. There was nothing the police could do even if they wanted to.
Temperatures peaked at 32.6C (90.7F) at heathrow, but that figure is set to leap today with a high of up to 34C expected.
No doubt some seaside resorts will again be full to bursting despite the strict two-metre rule still being in place – the relaxation to one metre only kicks in on July 4.
The mini- heatwave – which has prompted official health warnings – is expected to come to a dramatic and thundery end tomorrow, bringing in fresher and more typically summer conditions for the weekend.
But with nine million workers furloughed and a lot of children off school, the midweek heat on the official Midsummer’s Day prompted a weekendstyle rush to beaches and parks. Sunbathers were warned to use plenty of sunscreen in the blazing sun.
The most shocking scenes of overcrowding were on the South Coast. The A338 leading down to Bournemouth was gridlocked by lunchtime and there were 20- deep queues for fish and chips, ice creams and beers on the seafront.
euan Kogan, 31, made a 200-mile round trip from London to spend the day at the beach. he said: ‘I work for Marks & Spencer but my store is closed. The sunshine is amazing. This is much better than being stuck inside.’
Others were concerned about the lack of social distancing. Teacher Aaron Clegg, 37, said: ‘I am a bit on edge because of the amount of people. It seems like a second wave is inevitable.’
Problems on the same scale were not seen further north. The weather was also stunning in Scarborough, where fewer day-trippers meant social distancing was being largely adhered to.
‘A second wave is inevitable’