Coronavirus: Lockdown lifting measures next week will be ‘very limited’, No 10 clarifies

Downing Street has said that any relaxation to social distancing measures next week will be “very limited”, as Boris Johnson told Cabinet: “We will advance with maximum caution.”

The assurance came as Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that any dilution of the “stay home” message could be “catastrophic”, and the Welsh government warned against sending “mixed messages” to the public.

There were warnings today that suggestions apparently briefed to friendly newspapers that Mr Johnson is set to give the all-clear for sunbathing, picnics and unlimited exercise risked sending “mixed messages” to the public ahead of what is expected to be a sunny Bank Holiday Friday.

No 10 issued a plea to Britons to stick by existing social distancing rules over the weekend, which require them to leave their homes for only a few limited reasons and to maintain two metre separation when outside.

Cabinet today conducted a six-week review of lockdown, but any changes agreed will not be announced until Sunday, when the prime minister is planning a 7pm televised address to the nation.

Briefing cabinet on his plans, Mr Johnson said: “In considering whether there could be any easement of the existing guidelines, we are not going to do anything that risks a second peak.

“We will advance with maximum caution in order to protect the NHS and save lives.

“We will be guided at every step by science and data and we will closely track the impact of any easing of social distancing measure and will not hesitate to tighten the rules if required.”

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman told reporters to expect any relaxation of guidelines next week to be “very limited”, but declined to confirm or deny any details of the proposed changes.

“We are at a critical moment in the fight against the virus and we will not do anything which risks throwing away the efforts and sacrifices of the British people,” he said.

Following a meeting of the Welsh cabinet, a spokesman for Mark Drakeford’s Welsh government warned of the danger that public discussion of possible easing of restrictions risked undermining the “stay home” message and indicated that Cardiff may take a different approach from London.

And Ms Sturgeon said: “I particularly strongly believe for us to drop the clear, well-understood stay at home message right now could be a potentially catastrophic mistake."Downing Street has already started replacing the “stay home” instruction with the words “stay safe” in messages issued on its Twitter feed.

A Welsh government spokesman said: “Some of the reporting in today’s newspapers is confusing and risks sending mixed messages to people across the UK.

“The first minister of Wales will announce the outcome of the cabinet's decision in due course. Our message for this bank holiday remains, stay home, protect the NHS, save lives."

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