A Tory Cabinet minister has warned people in England to "think carefully" before seeing their granny from tomorrow.
Oliver Dowden said people should show restraint despite lockdown rules being relaxed to allow groups of six people - or two households, whichever is bigger - to meet outside.
The 'stay at home' order is being dropped and most over-50s have now had a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
However, Mr Dowden emphasised that people still cannot meet indoors or stay overnight - and warned people off "excessive" travel.
“We know that this disease thrives on social interaction," the Culture Secretary told Times Radio.
"And whilst we want to enable people to go and visit granny or participate in outdoor sports, people should think carefully about whether it is worth the cost in terms of having those unnecessary social interactions.
“Because every one additionally of those adds to the risk of virus transmission.”
Mr Dowden said people could travel across the country but shouldn't make "excessive travel beyond what you need to do".
He added: “If you take repeated journeys, I don’t know, for example you decide to meet many many different people, travel many distances, and that means you are stopping at service stations, you’re having lots of social interaction."
Tomorrow's changes are under Step One, Part Two of England's roadmap out of lockdown, and allow grassroots sport and outdoor pools to reopen.
Step Two will begin no earlier than April 12 and allow non-essential shops, hairdressers and outdoor areas of pubs and restaurants to reopen.
Indoor areas of pubs, as well as any indoor socialising and overnight stays, will only be allowed in Step Three from May 17 at the earliest.
Even if meeting friends and family this week, people are still advised to keep one to two metres' distance and not touch.
A review of social distancing is due by May 17 - raising the prospect that people from different households and bubbles will be allowed to hug again for the first time in 14 months.
