Downing Street has confirmed that localised lockdowns could be used to close beaches after scenes of thousands of people gathering on the south coast this week.
Police and local authorities had to declare an emergency and two dispersal orders were used to move people off beaches after mass gatherings in sites including Dorset, Kent, Devon, the North East and South Wales.
Two brawls of up to 200 people were filmed on a beach in Exmouth, Devon and three people were stabbed in Bournemouth.
Tonnes of rubbish have been left behind at beauty spots. A WHO special envoy said the gatherings could lead to spikes in Covid-19 cases.
Matt Hancock said the scenes, if repeated, could see the Government step in to shut beaches down.
Asked about the situation on beaches, a Downing Street spokesman told a Westminster briefing: “Everyone should be able to enjoy the sunshine, and we understand that people want to enjoy public spaces, but it is important we don’t undo the hard work of the British public in reducing the transmission of this virus.
“It is a matter for local authorities to manage numbers, alongside emergency services and Public Health England.
“As we saw yesterday they are best placed to make those decisions on a case-by-case basis.
“We have been clear that should we see case numbers increase we will introduce local lockdowns.”
Pressed on whether the Government would close beaches, the Number 10 spokesman said: “It is for local authorities to manage numbers.
“I believe Matt Hancock, when he spoke, was referring to the powers to impose localised lockdowns which we have been clear throughout may need to be the case if we see case numbers rise in a particular area.”
