Boris Johnson plots exit out of lockdown with 'outdoor mixing by Easter'

Visitors will be allowed into care homes by March 8, government announces

Reports say households may be allowed to mix by Easter as coronavirus restrictions are eased. London.

Outdoor mixing between households could be allowed by Easter as coronavirus restrictions in England are gradually unwound, according to reports.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due on Monday to outline a potential route out of lockdown for England over the coming weeks.
Downing Street is considering allowing meetings between friends and family in parks, with households able to mix regardless of the number of people, the Times reported.

Another widely expected change is that students will be able to start returning to school from next month, with younger students heading back to the classroom first.

While Mr Johnson has not confirmed the reports, further relaxation of some coronavirus rules were announced on Saturday.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said care home residents in England will be allowed one regular visitor from March 8, following the UK's successful vaccination campaign.

Older people living in care homes have been offered the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, with almost 17 million shots given to date.

The number of infections in the United Kingdom has also fallen from a peak at the beginning of the year, although it still remains high.

Each care home resident will be able to name one visitor, who will be required to take a Covid-19 test beforehand, wear personal protective equipment during the visit and avoid close contact beyond holding hands.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the measure would allow people to be carefully and safely reunited with loved ones.

"This is just the first step to getting back to where we want to be," he said.

"We need to make sure we keep the infection rate down, to allow greater visiting in a step by step way in the future."

The UK's minister for care Helen Whately said: "One of the hardest things during this pandemic has been seeing families desperate to be reunited with their loved ones kept apart and I absolutely want to bring them back together.

"As we begin to open up we will move step by step to increase visits while remembering we are still in the grip of a global pandemic."