COVID Q&A Will crowds cause a Covid spike, and can vaccinated pals meet indoors?

Q AWill people crowding together in parks lead to a spike in Covid cases? It’s unlikely. On Tuesday, concerns mounted when crowds of young people swarmed to parks to enjoy the hottest March day in more than 50 years. Despite the Rule of Six limit on groups outside, pictures showed hundreds of people in towns and cities mingling close together – with no social distancing.

Professor Sian Griffiths, a public health expert, said: ‘When I see the pictures I do get nervous. If we’re not in a household bubble, we need to be two metres apart and I don’t think those pictures look like that’s happening.’

Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned Britons to enjoy the sun ‘safely’ and urged people: ‘Don’t blow it now.’

However, previous research has shown that the risk of catching Covid outdoors is very low. Crowds flocking to beaches last summer did not lead to a single outbreak, according to a University of Edinburgh study.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh and one of the Government’s senior scientific advisers, said: ‘Over the summer we were treated to all this on the news – pictures of crowded beaches – and there was an outcry. There were no outbreaks linked to public beaches.’

While the risk of catching Covid outdoors is not zero, scientists say it is extremely unlikely.

Q

I have had two doses of the Covid vaccine. Can I meet someone else indoors who is fully vaccinated?

A

No. As things stand, people who’ve received both Covid vaccines still need to follow the same rules as everyone else.

On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said two fully vaccinated people cannot meet indoors because vaccines ‘are not giving 100 per cent protection’.

But many may argue the Prime Minister is being too cautious, as countries such as the US and Ireland have already implemented policies that now allow fully vaccinated individuals to meet indoors with no need to wear masks or stay two metres apart.

Currently, the earliest anyone will be able to meet indoors with someone from outside their household bubble will be May 17.