Are barbecues allowed in lockdown?

After ten weeks of coronavirus lockdown in the UK, there is some good news for Brits missing friends and family.

Boris Johnson announced in the daily press conference that lockdown measures will be eased from Monday, 1 June, meaning that groups of six can start to meet in outdoor spaces, following news that the UK has passed the five tests necessary to do so.

With the weather still scorching – it’s set to be the hottest May on record – does this mean you can now have a BBQ with people outside your household?

Can you have a BBQ during lockdown?

Under the new easing of the rules, having barbecues with up to five of your friends and/or family will be allowed from Monday, PM Johnson confirmed.

Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

However, it was reinforced that people must continue following social distancing rules and be ‘scrupulous’ about washing hands and maintaining good hygiene.

Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical adviser to the Government, told the briefing it was ‘essential’ that people continue to keep two metres away from people who aren’t staying in the same household.

He added that if you visit a friend’s home to hang out in the garden or outdoors, you would still need to be cautious about using the toilet or touching things inside the house.

He said: ‘If someone was to go into the loo because they had to do that, it’s absolutely critical that they wipe everything down, wash their hands all the way through.’

‘If you were to do something like a barbecue, remember that passing things from one person to another, if you haven’t washed your hands, you can pass the virus that way,’ he added.

Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Share your views in the comments below.