Five weeks after the severe restrictions were introduced, roads, beaches and parks have started filling up again.
At a news conference, Home Secretary Priti Patel will produce official data that proves rule-breaking is on the increase.
On Friday, the Welsh government announced tougher measures to stop non-essential trips.
The move came as:
- A London couple were on Wednesday caught by cops after driving more than five hours to climb Snowdon;
- Pictures on Friday showed crowds in the sunshine on the seafront in Hove, East Sussex;
- Footage from the A40 in London revealed hundreds of cars on the move.
FLOUT & ABOUT
At the start of the week less than half the normal traffic was on the roads across Britain.
But the number was still up three per cent on the previous week, to 41 per cent.
And the latest Google Maps data shows a rise in the amount of people on the move.
Visits to parks and beaches were up 19 per cent, just a third below their pre-lockdown figure.
In the past week, more than 340 parks and green spaces reopened across the country.
And the number visiting recreation locations such as shopping centres was up ten per cent.
In first few weeks of lockdown the proportion of people visiting restaurants, shopping centres and galleries dropped by 85 per cent.
But that is now down by just 75 per cent on its normal level.
Government insiders admitted they were concerned a small minority was breaking the rules.
A No10 source said: “There is clearly more traffic on the road.”
They said the Government was acutely aware there was “only a certain amount of this that the public can take”.
But the source insisted now was not the time to start easing restrictions.
PRITI TO WARN PUBLIC
Ms Patel will tell the public to stick with social distancing rules as now is a “crucial point in our fight against coronavirus”.
But she is expected to hint they could be tightened.
A source close to Ms Patel said: “We are seeing a worrying increase in people moving around.
“The vast majority of the public are still doing the right thing.
“However, transport use has ticked up in a way that suggests something more is going on and that has set off alarm bells.
“We know it has been hard but everyone needs to stick with it.
“The more people comply with the rules, and we slow the spread of this virus, the sooner we can think about easing rules.”
WHAT NATIONS ARE DOING
But there are signs a UK-wide approach is splintering.
Nicola Sturgeon suggested Scots could soon be allowed to meet a small “bubble” of friends or family.
And Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster said less-affected areas should be allowed to end restrictions sooner.
But Wales announced tougher measures.
Officials unveiled seven criteria that must be met, two more than the UK-wide plan.
It added people must “not leave or remain away” from their homes for longer than absolutely necessary.
The Welsh government is also considering a fresh crackdown on second home visits.
Ms Foster told the BBC: “We have been working together as four nations, continuing to decide what is the best way forward.
“But the two positions are not mutually exclusive.
“We may, as a country, decide there are different regions that will move at different times.”
‘TOO SOON’ TO LIFT LOCKDOWN
Health Secretary Matt Hancock continued to insist the focus was on stopping the spread of the virus and it was too soon to end lockdown restrictions.
But he was comfortable with some businesses reopening.
A No10 source said: “We know there’s only a certain amount of this that the public can take.
“That’s why ministers want to make progress as quickly as possible on the five conditions the Government has set out.
“By taking the right steps at the right time and going into lockdown when the scientific evidence justified that step, we were able to ensure compliance was at its highest when it mattered.
“As a result we have flattened the curve and stopped further spread of the disease.”
England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty played down the prospect of regional variations.
He told the Commons Science Select Committee that unlike China and Italy, regional approaches “are not there for us”.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said checks could be introduced at airports to identify passengers with coronavirus symptoms after lockdown has been lifted.
He said: “We will continue to keep medical scientific advice under review to say whether those procedures at airports should change.”
