No, You Cannot Meet Two Parents In A Park At The Same Time Despite What Dominic Raab Said

The foreign secretary had suggested it would be allowed under revised lockdown rules – but the government has said this is wrong.
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Dominic Raab was wrong to say people would soon be allowed to meet both their parents at the same time in park, the government has said.

In an interview on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme on Monday morning, the foreign secretary was asked if people would be able to “meet two parents at the same time” in a park.

The foreign secretary said: “Well, you could if there’s two metres apart.”

But the government has clarified this is not correct.

From Wednesday people will only be allowed to meet one other person in a park – and they must obey social distancing guidelines.

This means people could meet each parent separately, but not at the same time. 

In a separate BBC interview, Raab said as long as people used “common sense” and kept socially distant they could meet people outside their households.

“If you’re out in the park and you’re two metres apart... you can meet up with other people,” he said.

Boris Johnson will face MPs later today to explain his plan to ease the lockdown.

The government will also publish a 50-page document detailing the new guidance,

In his speech last night, the prime minister said from Wednesday people will be permitted to take “unlimited” outdoor exercise, sunbathe, play sports with members of their household and “drive to other destinations”.

The PM said a phased reopening of schools and non-essential shops in England could potentially begin from June 1 if transmission can be reduced.

Some parts of the hospitality industry could be reopened from the beginning of July.

Johnson also said people who cannot work from home should now be “actively encouraged” to return to their jobs, with No.10 having indicated this meant from Monday.

But during his Today interview this morning, Raab also contradicted the prime minister and said people should in fact only consider returning to work from Wednesday.