rlex Posted March 29, 2021 Posted March 29, 2021 Two households or groups of up to six people are now able to meet outside in England again as the stay-at-home Covid restrictions order comes to an end. Outdoor sport facilities including tennis courts and golf courses are also reopening, and organised outdoor sports can resume in the latest easing. And weddings will also be on again, attended by up to six people. But Boris Johnson has urged caution, saying cases are up in Europe and variants threaten the vaccine rollout. "Despite today's easements, everyone must continue to stick to the rules, remember hands, face, space, and come forward for a vaccine when called," the prime minister said. A new slogan - Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air - was also being unveiled by the government to emphasise the importance of ventilation in reducing the spread of the virus. What can I do from Monday... and what comes next? How many people can I meet now? How many people have been vaccinated so far? UK reports 3,862 cases on Sunday Prof Chris Whitty, the UK's chief medical officer, said: "The evidence is very clear that outdoor spaces are safer than indoors. It is important to remember this as we move into the next phase." The lifting of the stay at home order in England happens just days after Wales took a similar step. Scotland and Northern Ireland will follow suit later this week. It comes after huge progress has been made in reducing infections and rolling out the vaccination programme. It should signify the worst of the pandemic being over. But if the virus has taught us anything, it is that you can take nothing for granted. The direct link between infections and hospitalisations has been severely weakened - even broken - by vaccines. However, a surge in infections would still cause havoc for many people who are in the process of building up immunity, for small numbers of the most at-risk groups who have not been vaccinated, and for those for whom the vaccines do not work - while very good, they are not 100% perfect. Mutations that allow the virus to dodge past some of the immune response could also make things worse. It's why the government's key message today is one of caution. But it does not mean we can't be optimistic, either.
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