The UK lockdown began on March 23 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but in an address to the nation on Sunday, Boris Johnson said there would be a gradual loosening of restrictions this week.
In his speech, the Prime Minister gave people in England new freedoms to exercise more than once per day.
However, he left many confused about whether they can see family or friends from outside of their household.
Shortly before the PM’s address, a government source said: "The logical consequence of what we're doing in terms of adding unlimited exercise is that you could sit next to a single friend in the park but you'd have to be two metres apart - just one single person."
Mr Johnson explained in his speech that people must continue to “obey the rules on social distancing”, and fines have been increased to £100 for the people who break them.
Here’s what the government has said since:
Am I allowed to see family and friends?
In his speech, Mr Johnson emphasised the need to follow social distancing rules with anyone you don’t live with - that means staying at least two metres apart.
A new 50-page document published by the government on Monday afternoon said that, from Wednesday, people can visit a parent, a girlfriend or a boyfriend from outside their household if they observe the distance and remain outdoors.
The document says that "the risk of infection outside is significantly lower than inside", and explains: "You can only exercise with up to one person from outside your household – this means you should not play team sports, except with members of your own household."
These rules are expected to apply for the foreseeable future, with Boris Johnson making no mention of when restrictions on seeing multiple friends and family members together would be lifted.
When will I be able to see groups of family and friends?
While current advice says you can only socialise with one other person, the new government document says household "bubbles" could be introduced, allowing two households to share childcare duties, freeing up more people to return to work.
The proposed idea is based on a New Zealand government model of household “bubbles”.
The government is also planning to ease restrictions in “phases”, with the reopening of hospitality businesses part of the third and final phase of the proposed lockdown exit.
Dominic Raab confirmed to Sky News that July 4 is the conditional date for the hospitality sector to begin reopening.
"From 4 July, at the earliest, we'll look at other sectors and that will include hospitality, but it will also include personal care and people like hairdressers," he said.
However, it’s not yet clear whether the public will still be expected to remain with people from the same household by that point.
