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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sam Blewett & Sam Elliott

Government scraps 'Stay at Home' Covid slogan for 'hands, face, space, fresh air'

The government have officially binned its Stay at Home coronavirus slogan and replaced with with a 'hands, face, space, fresh air' message.

Friends and families will be able to reunited from today with the easing of England's coronavirus lockdown to allow far greater freedom outdoors.

Groups of up to six, or two households, can socialise in parks and gardens once more, while outdoor sports facilities can reopen after the stay-at-home order ended on Monday.

The "hands, face, space, fresh air" slogan serves as a reminder to people not to "sneak into the house" as restrictions ease, a former chief scientific adviser to the government believes.

Professor Sir Mark Walport told Times Radio : "We know now that airborne transmission is the most important way which this virus transmits and clearly when you're outside it gets blown away much more easily.

Are you confused by the lockdown changes or have a question about them? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

Lockdown restrictions are easing – and now there's a new government slogan (Getty Images)

"And it's one of the reasons that summer is a safer time for most respiratory viruses.

"We have just come out of a time of year when it takes people a certain amount of persuasion to be outside.

"The bottom line is, there is still quite a lot of infection about and we need to emphasise to people that the relax in the restrictions is outdoors and it doesn't give people an excuse to sneak into the house."

Among the first to re-open its doors was the Morley Hayes Golf Club, near Derby, with players teeing off at 12.01am on Monday for a seven-hole floodlit charity tournament.

'Hands, face, space, fresh air' replaces the Stay at Home slogan (NHS)

Boris Johnson stressed that "we must remain cautious, with cases rising across Europe and new variants threatening our vaccine rollout", while warm weather was excepted to accompany the relaxation.

"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 added.

He is expected to urge the public to take personal responsibility by sticking to the restrictions as he holds a Downing Street press conference on Monday afternoon.

New rules came into play today as family and friends can now meet up outside (Getty Images)

Football and cricket pitches, tennis and basketball courts, outdoor swimming pools, golf courses and sailing clubs are now free to reopen after months of being shuttered.

Organised team sports can also resume outdoors, meaning grassroots competitions can take place ahead of the Easter break without the need for social distancing.

Restrictions were eased as official figures showed more than 30 million people in the UK have received a first vaccine dose, accounting for about 57 per cent of all adults.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he plans to lose weight now restrictions have eased (AFP via Getty Images)

The Prime Minister has sought to lose weight after his own admission to hospital with Covid-19 and the Government is now calling for the public to participate in a fitness drive, with children recommended to aim for an hour of physical activity a day, and adults for at least 150 minutes a week.

The fitness drive comes after the latest figures showed more than 150,000 deaths involving coronavirus have been recorded in the UK.

In Wales, the "stay local" order ended on Saturday and people were allowed to stay in self-contained holiday accommodation.

The stay home order in Scotland is to end on Friday, while in Northern Ireland up to six people, or two households, will be able to meet outdoors from Thursday.

It is the second major easing of England's lockdown imposed in early January, with schools having been reopened to all pupils on March 8.

While greater outdoor freedoms are now permitted, the Government is still advising people to work from home where possible and minimise the number of journeys they take.

The next step in the roadmap to easing England's lockdown is April 12, which is earmarked for non-essential shops to reopen and for outdoor hospitality, including pubs and restaurants.

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