PM: Don’t celebrate Easter inside – even if you’ve had 2 jabs

BORIS Johnson last night urged the public not to meet loved ones indoors this Easter – even if they have been fully vaccinated.

The Prime Minister instead called on Britons to ‘keep each other safe’ by gathering outside in groups of no more than six, or two households.

Controversially, he warned it was unsafe to mix indoors even after two jabs.

In a question and answer session released on social media, Mr Johnson was asked whether the public could meet indoors with friends and family who have been vaccinated. He replied: ‘I’m afraid the answer is no, because we’re not yet at this stage.

‘We’re very much in a world where you can meet friends and family outdoors under the rule of six or two households.

And even though friends and family members may be vaccinated, the vaccines are not giving 100 per cent protection and that’s why we just need to be cautious.

‘We don’t think they entirely reduce or remove the risk of transmission.’

His comments led to a social media backlash, with many questioning the value of the vaccine if it does not put them on the path back to normal life.

Former Tory MP Antoinette Sandbach accused the Prime Minister of ‘awful messaging’, and said his comments risked undermining public confidence in the vaccine. She added: ‘What is the point of having the vaccine if it doesn’t protect you? This is awful messaging from the Government which undermines the vaccine programme.’

Mr Johnson’s comments also jarred with international advice. America’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

yesterday said fully vaccinated Americans could now travel without the need to quarantine.

Last month, the CDC advised it was also safe for them to meet indoors this weekend.

In a message on Twitter, the health agency said: ‘If you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, you can gather safely for Easter with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks.’ In the UK, ministers are concerned that a blast of cold weather could push families to move their Easter get-togethers indoors. They fear that indoor mixing may cause a surge in cases.

Earlier this week, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty urged grandparents not to hug their grandchildren this Easter even if they have been fully vaccinated.