Hancock threatens to ban all exercise

The Health Secretary said on Sunday speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge, he does “not want to have to take away exercise as a reason to leave home.”

Matt Hancock said if people continue to break the law and do not follow the rules, then the government “might have to take further action.”

Hancock said, “We’ve said it’s okay to get some exercise – I don’t want to have to take away exercise as a reason to leave home if too many people are not following the rules.

“Let’s not have a minority spoiling it for everybody.”

Hancock that “no body should be going out to sunbathe in public spaces.”

This comes after many people are ignoring the governments advice, which is “backed up in law” as groups of people are still gathering in parks and other public spaces.

Parks in Battersea and across London on Saturday were full of people gathering, and also along the Thames.

Hancock said, “We’re absolutely clear that you should not leave your home unless it’s for one of four reasons: for medical reasons, to buy food, to go to work if you can’t work at home and for exercise.”

He refused to be drawn on how long the UK would remain in lockdown, however, he said if people do  follow the rules, then “we will be able to make some progress.”

The Department for Health announced on Saturday another 708 people have died from coronavirus taking the total to 4,313.

The department said, “A total of 183,190 people have been tested of which 41,903 tested positive.”

Public Health England (PHE) said of the 637 English deaths in hospitals, patients were aged between five and 104-years old.