Ministers fear the UK could go ‘back to square one’ in the fight against coronavirus if Britons do not adhere to lockdown rules as data suggests people have been flouting restrictions for weeks.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night pleaded with people to stick to current restrictions which prohibit meeting more than one person from outside your household outdoors.
But there are increasing signs that many have given up on lockdown measures, sparking growing fears of a potential second wave of the deadly disease.
New data published today suggests some people were bending the rules even before Boris Johnson set out his lockdown exit strategy on May 10.
Google footfall data showed the number of people visiting parks was above pre-lockdown levels in the days leading up to the Prime Minister’s address to the nation.
Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics today revealed almost one in five adults are meeting up with friends or family from outside their household.
Google footfall data showed the number of people visiting parks was above pre-lockdown levels in the days leading up to the Prime Minister’s address to the nation
However, the Google data, compiled by tracking the location of mobile phones, showed footfall at transport hubs remained far below pre-lockdown levels
It is the same story in terms of the number of people going to essential shops like supermarkets
Matt Hancock last night warned the nation risks going back to ‘square one’ if people do not stick to coronavirus lockdown rules
Warm weather has seen people flock to the UK’s public spaces in recent days. People are pictured enjoying the sunshine in East London yesterday
A large group of friends is pictured gathering in Regent’s Park in central London on May 20
The Government’s current lockdown rules state that you are allowed to meet up with one friend or family member from outside your household outdoors if you remain at least two metres apart.
Meanwhile, day trips to the park or to the beach are permitted with members of your household.
A spell of warm weather in recent days has seen thousands of Britons flock to the nation’s public spaces.
But there have been numerous examples of people breaking the rules with police having to warn people not to camp overnight in a number of locations.
Rule-breaking campers in Devon and Cornwall were sent home by officers while traffic wardens issued more than 70 tickets in the coastal town of Woolacombe as all car parks were shut to keep away visitors.
Parks across the country have also been packed as people have met up with friends.
Mr Hancock suggested yesterday at the daily Downing Street press conference that a failure to adhere to restrictions could have devastating consequences.
He said: ‘Let’s not go back to square one. We can all play our part in the national effort.’
If the rate of transmission of coronavirus was to spike the Government would likely move to reimpose a stricter lockdown.
Senior police officers are increasingly concerned that some people appear to have given up on the rules with one chief constable telling The Times: ‘I think people no longer understand what they can do – or think it is no longer important.’
Google footfall data published by The Guardian suggested many people were not adhering to the rules even before Mr Johnson set out his plan to ease lockdown.
The data which is compiled by monitoring the number of mobile phones at a certain location showed that between May 4-8 activity in parks was above pre-lockdown levels with footfall 16 per cent above the baseline on May 6 and 7.
The baseline number is the average for the corresponding day during the five week period between January 3 and February 6.
ONS data today suggests many people are not sticking to Mr Johnson’s new guidance on only meeting one person outside their household outdoors.
A survey conducted between May 14 and 17 showed that 39 per cent of adults had visited a park or public green space in the past seven days.
But some 17 per cent admitted they had met up with friends or family from outside their household.
An ONS survey conducted between May 14 and 17 cast light on the reasons why people have been leaving their homes
The latest Downing Street transport data showed increases in the number of people using cars but public transport usage remains low
Crowds of people visiting Southend beach during hot and sunny weather in Southend, Essex today as temperatures rise
Meanwhile, the ONS social impact survey also revealed some of the most common reasons why people have left their homes during lockdown.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, number one on the list is to go shopping for basic necessities such as food and medicine with 80 per cent of people having left their house of that reason.
Second on the list was exercise with 70 per cent while travelling and from work was third with 28 per cent. Some 12 per cent of people said they had left their home during lockdown to run errands.
The data also suggests much of the population believes the UK will be fundamentally changed in its outlook by the current outbreak.
Some 42 per cent of respondents said they believed Britain to be kind before the outbreak.
But 61 per cent said they believed Britain will be kind after the current pandemic.
It comes after a major study found less than half of 19 to 30-year-olds are ‘strictly’ abiding by the lockdown rules.
Among all adults the figure has dropped from 70 per cent to under 60 per cent in the last fortnight.