Well how's this Archived Message Posted by walter on April 26, 2020, 11:33 am, in reply to "Lockdown confusion" What is a 'reasonable excuse' to go out? The measures in place say people should go out as little as possible and only leave home if they have a "reasonable excuse". This includes: Exercise - alone, or with members of your household Shopping for basic necessities Any medical need, or providing care for a vulnerable person Travel to or from work, but only when you cannot work from home Police also have wide-ranging powers to help fight coronavirus by enforcing the social distancing measures. They have been issued guidance about what might be "reasonable" and "unreasonable" excuses for people leaving their homes. What are the rules on exercise? If you have to go outside you should stay more than 2m (6ft) apart from anyone other than members of your own household. This is what's known as social distancing. Government guidance urges people to "stay local", use open spaces near their home and avoid unnecessary travel However, National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) guidelines for England say driving to the countryside to walk is likely to be a reasonable excuse, as long as far more time is spent walking than driving. In Northern Ireland you can drive to a safe space for exercise People should only exercise once a day, although in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland there is no legal ban on exercising more. However, in Wales exercising more than once a day is now illegal - and potentially a criminal offence New tougher measures in Wales tell people they must exercise "as close as possible" to home. Cyclists are now being told they should travel no further than a "reasonable walking distance from home" You can exercise alone or with members of your own household Dogs can be walked as part of a person's daily exercise No mention is given to how long you can exercise for. But Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has suggested a walk of up to an hour, a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between the two might be appropriate for most people. In Wales the rules say you can exercise for a reasonable amount of time and that means four or five hours is out of the question. Can I sunbathe in the park? Some public parks in London were temporarily closed following lockdown. But the government has now told councils that parks should remain open. Gatherings of more than two in parks and public spaces have been banned (ruling out most team sports) A person is allowed to stop for a break in exercise, according to NPCC guidelines. However short periods of exercise followed by long periods of inactivity are not permitted (so sunbathing would not be allowed) It also says, for example, people should not be "home-working" in parks, or sitting on a public bench for long periods of time. People can do what they like in their own gardens https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729 Message Thread: Lockdown confusion - Mick Travis April 26, 2020, 10:39 am If everybody goes to wide open spaces how can anybody practice social distancing? nm - Der April 26, 2020, 10:43 am You stay at least 2m away from others - Mick Travis April 26, 2020, 10:49 am When did you suddenly wake up to the fact that you live, and always have lived, in a police state? - Der April 26, 2020, 11:18 am 1981....nm - Keith-264 April 26, 2020, 11:59 am Yes, the more stringent lockdowns are doing well in Belgium and France, no? - Willem April 26, 2020, 2:06 pm Let them out. nm - Der April 26, 2020, 5:25 pm ???nm - Willem April 26, 2020, 6:26 pm The Rainmakers -Let My People Go Go - Keith-264 April 26, 2020, 10:59 pm Yet you can go to B & Q! - nm - psingh April 26, 2020, 11:23 am Well how's this - walter April 26, 2020, 11:33 am Re: Well how's this - Sinister Burt April 26, 2020, 1:04 pm Re: Lockdown confusion - Willem April 26, 2020, 2:01 pm   Searching