In England, Boris Johnson has eased some of the lockdown rules, with the government now giving the green light for people to meet with friends and family members outside of their household in certain circumstances.

The lockdown rules in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are differ, and there are a number of altering measures and policies in place.

This is down to factors including geography, science and politics, experts say.

Here, the Liverpool Echo, takes a look at what the lockdown rules say about who you can and cannot see in different parts of the UK - including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.


You are allowed to meet one other person from outside your household if you are outdoors.

But you can only meet one person at a time, with public gatherings of more than two people from different households prohibited in law.

"Outdoors" was taken to mean parks at first but the government has clarified and said it means public places, with someone able to stand on the street to talk to someone in a house for example.

But you are not allowed to go into a front or back garden of a private home, even if you socially distance.


The advice remains to stay at home, except to go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if is not reasonably practicable to work from home).

The overarching aim is that people should stay at home as much as possible. However, exercising outdoors is an important exception to this rule and is encouraged.

Wales' health minister is considering whether people should be able to meet loved ones not in their household outdoors.

The next review of the rules is on 28 May.

Northern Ireland

Groups of four to six people who do not share a household can meet outdoors maintaining social distancing - this can be in a garden, park or another open space.

However, you must still adhere to social-distancing rules and remain 2m (6ft) apart.

You cannot visit friends or relatives inside their homes or other buildings, which First Minister Arlene Foster says is due to medical advice that the virus spreads more easily indoors.


Scots can meet another household in public, allowing family and friends to be reunited more easily - including in private back gardens.

The Scottish roadmap says that, from May 28, "two households" will be able to meet in a public place.

This suggests an unlimited number of people from each household - for instance a child and both parents - will be able to meet.

Scottish government officials confirmed it was possible two whole households might be allowed to meet, but that full details will only be confirmed next week.

In both Scotland there will still be a limit of just two households on public meetings, and the households will need to stay two metres apart.

But in phase 2 of the roadmap, people would be able to meet with "larger groups" including family and friends outside with physical distancing.

They would also be able to meet people from another household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures.

And at phase 3 people would be able to meet with people from more than one household indoors with physical distancing and hygiene measures.

There is no date for phases 2 and 3 and the exact measures aren't known yet.