Families who want to briefly escape from lockdown this weekend are being urged to "stay home and to stay away from County Durham".
The message has been shared by Amanda Healy, Durham County Council’s director of public health, who has reiterated the Health Secretary's comments. Matt Hancock has told the public that despite the forecasted sunny weather at the weekend, people should not be tempted to stray far from home.
With temperatures expected to soar into the high teens and warm sunny weather on the way, it is feared that families might plan day trips, including to areas of County Durham.
This is despite everyone being told to stay at home as much as possible in order to stop the spread of coronavirus.
In a message to the public Ms Healy said: "I'm aware that people may want to visit County Durham and our beautiful coastline and the city of Durham. However at this time we urge people to be sensible and to please stay away.
"As an area that has always extended a very warm welcome to visitors we find this a really difficult message to give."
She added that parks and open spaces will remain open in the county, to enable people to take their daily exercise.
But she added: "We urge you to stay to your local parks and spaces that are close to your home and follow the social distancing rules."
She ended her appeal to the public by promising hat visitors will be welcomed back "with open arms" after the lockdown has ended.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking at the daily press briefing on Friday reinforced the “instruction” for people to continue to stay at home this weekend, even if the weather improves.
He said: “We are set for a warm weekend in some parts of the country.
“But the disease is still spreading and we absolutely cannot afford to relax the social distancing measures we have in place.
“We cannot relax our discipline now. If we do, people will die.
“I end with the advice we all know. This advice is not a request – it is an instruction.
“Stay at home, protect lives and then you will be doing your part.”
