Derbyshire health chief urges people to 'do the right thing' so we can 'get back to doing the things we love sooner' as restrictions ease

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed yesterday that hugs, indoor hospitality, overnight stays and trips to the cinema would all be allowed from Monday, May 17.

However, Mr Johnson urged people to continue to ‘exercise common sense’ as the country emerges from the pandemic.

MORE: Derbyshire area’s coronavirus rate now highest in England

Derbyshire’s director of public health Dean Wallace also said that Covid ‘hasn’t gone away’ and it remained important to ‘do the right thing’.

Mr Wallace said: “It’s natural to be excited about the prospect of restrictions easing further from next week, and we’re all looking forward to being able to hug relatives and friends and socialising more with people who are not in our households or bubbles.

“However, Covid hasn’t gone away and I would urge everyone to continue to use their judgement about what they consider to be safe and follow the rules to keep others protected.

"They should continue to follow government guidance, wash hands regularly and wear a face covering unless exempt where they are required to do so.”

As well as pubs and restaurants, from Monday all indoor entertainment venues including cinemas, museums and children's play areas will be allowed to reopen.

The government has said people from England will be allowed to leave the country from Monday for whatever reason they like.

Ministers have produced a traffic light system for which countries people can visit and what rules they will be subject to when they return.

Mr Wallace added: “As one-in-three people can have the virus without any symptoms it’s also really important that people continue to get tested.

"Everyone can now collect rapid tests or order them through www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests to test themselves twice a week.

“To find out where you can collect testing kits from visit https://derbyshire.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/findatestcenter.html

“Anyone with coronavirus symptoms should self-isolate immediately and book a test in the normal way by visiting www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by ringing NHS 119.

“If we all continue to do the right thing we can all get back to doing the things we love sooner.”

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