Coronavirus: Government says no plans to tighten restrictions despite warning of exercise ban
The government has said there are no plans to tighten coronavirus restrictions despite earlier warnings that exercise could be banned if people ignore official advice.
One council in London said it had been forced to close a park after it was visited by 3,000 people on Saturday as some people flouted social distancing advice.
Health secretary Matt Hancock warned at the weekend that exercise could be banned if people continue to flout restrictions.
Government guidelines say the public can exercise outside, but only on their own or with other members of their household.
Lambeth Council closed Brockwell Park in south-east London on Sunday after saying 3,000 people, many sunbathing or in large groups, had visited on Saturday. The park reopened on Monday.
Police moved more than 100 people on in north-west London's Primrose Hill on the same day.
Hancock said: “I don’t want to have to take away exercise as a reason to leave home… if too many people are not following the rules.”
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However, the government believes the public are largely obeying the rules, and on Monday housing minister Robert Jenrick said there are no plans to impose greater restrictions.
He told BBC Breakfast: “We don’t have any imminent plans to do so but we do keep each of these measures under review.
“It would be very unfortunate if we had to do so and make it harder for people, particularly people who live in flats in towns and cities, to get the exercise they deserve.
“Nobody wants to see that happen.”
Jenrick even suggested lockdown measures could be gradually eased “in the weeks to come”.
He said there is currently “excess capacity” in intensive care units “across the country” that must be maintained.
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“If we can do that then we can look in the weeks to come to begin to very carefully… lift some of those measures,” he said.
“But an exit strategy that’s sustainable will also have to be accompanied by much greater testing and tracing than we are able to do today.”
Jenrick said he has spoken to councils to warn them to be “very judicious” in only closing parks if they cannot ensure social distancing can be maintained in them.
He said he has “a lot of sympathy” with those who argue that public confidence could be lost by people in power with ample space telling those in crowded homes they cannot use parks or exercise outside.
“I’ve spoken over the weekend to a number of the councils who have had to close parks,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“This is their decision, but I have asked them to be very judicious in taking that step and only to do that where they feel it is impossible to maintain social distancing rules within their parks or open spaces.”
He implored people to stay inside, with the potential for more good weather approaching, as well as the Easter weekend.
“Everyone needs to play their part – if we do that, we will be able to, in a sensible measure, lift these restrictions sooner and begin to turn the tide on the virus.
“So please, as we approach more good weather it seems and the Easter weekend, play your part, stay at home, protect the NHS and help to save people’s lives.”
