The British health secretary has warned that outdoor exercise in the UK could be banned if the current 'stay at home' measures to tackle coronavirus are not followed by the public.
Matt Hancock told the BBC's Andrew Marr that they "will have to take action" if this continues to be the case, as warmer weather in recent days is said to have seen greater numbers of people spending too much time outside.
Mr Hancock encouraged people not to "flout the rules", stating:
"I think this example of exercise is a really important one, because we've said because of the positive benefits to your physical and your mental health that it's OK to exercise on your own or with members of your own household.
"But if the result of that is that too many people go out and flout the other rules because they say 'well if I can exercise then it's fine for me to do other things' then I'm afraid we will have to take action.”
He went on to recognise the majority of people staying in, but highlighted that the minority could ruin the current measures for everyone:
“I don't want to have to take that action, of course I don't, but we have already demonstrated that we are prepared to take the action that's necessary to get this virus under control.
"So my message is really clear. If you don't want us to have to take the step to ban exercise of all forms outside of your own home then you've got to follow the rules and the vast majority people are following the rules.
"Let's not have a minority spoiling it for everybody."
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