Pensioners face difficult choices after the Government warned them to minimise contact with other people - despite lockdown being eased.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged over-70s to take "particular care" to avoid contact with people outside their households.
He also advised pregnant women and those with underlying health issues like asthma against meeting others to protect themselves from coronavirus.
However, none of those people have been told to stay indoors entirely and they are all allowed to benefit from the slight loosening of lockdown in England from Wednesday, the government said.
That means despite the warning to avoid contact with others, over-70s may also take unlimited daily exercise and sit in the park.
It comes after the Government eased lockdown restrictions in England, allowing people to exercise more outside and to meet a pal or a family member in the park, from two metres away.
A separate group of 2.5million "extremely vulnerable" people - of all ages, including some over 70 - must continue to stay in their homes for 12 weeks, despite the lockdown being loosened in England.
This more serious "shielded" group - who have been contacted directly by the NHS - have been warned not to leave home even for exercise or shopping, and the government believes they may have to continue staying at home beyond June.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Mr Johnson said: "I'm sorry to say we shall continue to ask those who are clinically vulnerable, including pregnant women and people over 70, or those with pre-existing chronic conditions to take particular care to minimise contact with those outside their households.
"And we must continue to shield people who are extremely vulnerable - they should remain at home and avoid any direct contact with others."
He added: "I know that easing restrictions for the many will only increase the anguish of those who must remain shielded. So the Government will look at every possible way of supporting the most vulnerable."
Addressing the nation from Downing Street last night, the Prime Minister provided the "first sketch of a road map for reopening society".
People in England will be allowed to exercise more than once a day, sit and sunbathe in parks and on beaches, and go for a drive from Wednesday.
But the vast majority of rules imposed on March 23 remain in place - as Mr Johnson warned "this is not the time simply to end the lockdown this week."
And schools and all non-essential shops will remain shut until at least June, with pubs expected to be closed beyond July.
Some cafes and restaurants could begin to partially reopen from July 4 "at the very earliest", Boris Johnson's deputy said today.
Meanwhile secondary school lessons will not resume properly until September.
An initial version of this story which said that over-70s must stay at home has been amended to make it clear that this is only true of over-70s in the 'shielded' group - but not other over-70s.
