Minority flouting the rules warned to change behaviour now and end lockdown sooner

The health secretary has urged the “small minority” of people who are breaking social distancing rules to change their behaviour, saying: “The more people follow the rules then the faster we will all be through this.”

Matt Hancock, who said he understood how difficult a time the country was having because he has lost two people he was “fond of”, added that the government was “not planning any changes” imminently to the rules on exercising.

Earlier, Mr Hancock warned outdoor exercise could be banned if people continued to flout rules, as the coronavirus death toll rose sharply again.

Meanwhile Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow confirmed midwife Lynsay Coventry, 54, who died on Thursday, is the first serving midwife to die after testing positive for the

“Following these rules is missioncritical if we are to protect the NHS. MATT HANCOCK

virus. Speaking during the daily press conference yesterday afternoon, as the country prepares to enter its third week in lockdown, Mr Hancock warned people not to flout rules around social distancing and said tougher restrictions could follow.

He added: “Following these rules is mission-critical if we’re to protect the NHS, slow the spread and give the NHS time to expand capacity and so save lives. The more people follow the rules then the faster we will all be through this.

“So I say this to the small minority of people who are breaking the rules or pushing the boundaries: you’re risking your own life and the lives of others and you’re making it harder for us all.”

Mr Hancock said the government is not currently looking at tightening the rules on exercising outdoors, after images of crowded parks over the weekend sparked public outrage.

“What we are doing is being absolutely clear that the current rules must be followed,” he said.

He said the rules are designed to include exercise to protect people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

He added it was unclear when the rules could be changed because of ongoing questions around whether those who have had the illness have developed sufficient immunity.

He said: “Even for those of us who have had it where the science predicts it’s likely that our immunity is higher and our ability to transmit the virus is lower.

“We are not yet confident enough how high the immunity is and how much lower the likelihood of those of us who have had the disease transmitting it is, to be able change the rules.

“The rules are the same for everyone and will be until the science can give us confidence that we can say something different to those who have been through it.”