HOW THE FOUR UK NATIONS DIFFER OVER LOCKDOWN EXIT

WALES

The Welsh Government has committed to another three weeks of lockdown and has retained the “stay at home” message.

However, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said people are now allowed to exercise more than once per day and garden centres can reopen as long as social distancing rules are obeyed.

He has also allowed local authorities to begin planning how to safely reopen libraries and municipal recycling centres.

In a warning to border-crossers from England, he tweeted that “In Wales, Welsh law applies”, adding “No-one should travel to Wales to exercise”.

Separately, the Chief Medical Officer, Frank Atherton, “does not recommend that everyone should wear face masks or coverings” and believes it “should be a matter of personal choice”, said Wales’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething.

ENGLAND

England has introduced the largest changes so far, allowing people to spend more time outdoors to enjoy sunbathing, picnics and fresh air and exercise as much as they like from today. People are also free to drive any distance within England for a day-trip, visit a garden centre, and make use of open-air facilities like tennis and basketball courts and golf courses.

People can also meet one other person not from their household, provided the encounter is socially distanced and takes place outside.

Face masks are also advised for enclosed spaces like public transport, and people who cannot work from home are being advised to return to work, including tradesmen and construction and manufacturing workers.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Yesterday the Northern Ireland Executive published a five-step road map to relax lockdown measures – but with no firm dates.

It will start by allowing more outdoor spaces to open and people from different households to meet outside, as well as drive-through church services and cinemas, churches opening for private prayer, and more sports, including some water activities, golf and tennis.

Those unable to work from home will be encouraged to return to work on a phased basis in another early shift if the R number – the average number of people an infected person can expect to pass the virus on to – continues to decline below one.

Northern Ireland extended lockdown for another three weeks last Thursday, with the next review due at the end of the month.

SCOTLAND

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has kept all existing lockdown measures for at least another three weeks, but eased “one small aspect” as she allowed socially distanced walking and exercising outdoors more than once per day.

Ms Sturgeon says: “Stay home save lives remains my clear message to Scotland.”