Brits told they can go on day-trips in the car from Wednesday as Boris Johnson unveils plan to exit the lockdown

BRITS have been told they can go on day-trips in the car from Wednesday as Boris Johnson unveiled his plan to exit the lockdown.

The Prime Minister eased some of the quarantine measures - but warned the lockdown was not over yet.

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Speaking to the nation, Boris Johnson confirmed some of the drastic measures were being eased in England from Wednesday - including being allowed to take car trips.

The guidelines differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland though, where people are still being urged to stay at home.

Mr Johnson said: "From this Wednesday we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.

"You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household."

The message will open the gateway for Brits to escape their homes after seven weeks of lockdown.

In a video message the PM:

• Urged Brits to get back to work if they can't from home
• Revealed Brits would be allowed to sunbathe in parks and play unlimited sport from Wednesday - and can go on day trips
• Said anyone coming into the country by air would be forced to quarantine
• Schools will start going back from June - but only if the infection level is low enough
• But he warned that pubs, cinemas and mass gatherings would be off the cards for months to come

Brits will also be able to enjoy picnics on the beach and in parks as long as they follow social distancing guidelines.

But the Welsh Government has warned that people in England will not be allowed to travel to Wales for exercise, adding that those who cross the border to do so could face police fines.

Counsel General and Assembly Member Jeremy Miles told BBC Wales: "I want to be really clear about this. The position in Wales is very different from the position in England in relation to that.

“Our regulations do not permit people to get in their cars and drive to destinations in Wales and this includes people getting in their cars in England. We are not permitting that in Wales.”

Scots First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also told her nation yesterday: “My ask of you is to continue to stay at home.

“We must solidify our progress, not squander it or send mixed messages."

Mr Johnson's new rules were also blasted by the Northern Irish First Minister Arlene Foster.

She said: "On the whole, the message is to stay at home.

“We will say we are not deviating from the message at this time."

ON THE ROAD

But cooped up Brits have already started to hit the roads.

Last week, deputy chief scientific adviser Dame Angela McLean warned the rise in car use during the lockdown was "troubling".

She told the daily No 10 press conference: "For motor vehicles what you see is a pattern that looks a bit like commuting because it's low every weekend and we do worry about that creeping up.

"I think all of us remember that what we've done together which is to stay home has worked to protect the NHS and save lives and as one of the people who looks at this data and thinks about how it fits into how we think about the future it does trouble me that the dark blue line [use of motor vehicles] is creeping up again."

Last month, figures from the AA showed journeys were up by almost a fifth in total when compared with a typical day earlier in April as restless Brits try to "break the boredom" of lockdown.

Police even set up a checkpoint in Brighton on Saturday to turn away beachgoers.

Locals cheered as tourists were turned away, voicing their support for police efforts to maintain social distancing by keeping visitors out of the city over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Speaking in an address to the nation, Mr Johnson thanked the public for following the guidelines over the past six weeks.

He said: “It is thanks to your effort and sacrifice in stopping the spread of this disease that the death rate is coming down and hospital admissions are coming down.”

“Thanks to you we have protected our NHS and saved many thousands of lives.”

But he warned the battle against the bug had not been won yet.

Mr Johnson added: “It would be madness now to throw away that achievement by allowing a second spike.

“We must stay alert. We must continue to control the virus and save lives.”

On Sunday, the death toll hit more than 31,000 fatalities while more than 215,000 cases have been recorded.

Among the deaths are more than 200 health workers.