The Government have announced that people will be able to exercise outside with up to five others from different households from Monday 1 June, provided that strict social distancing guidelines are followed.
Links: Shielding can now leave homes / 6 people meet-ups allowed / More detailed advice on easing of lockdown from June 1 / FAQs: Updates on what you can and can’t do
This means that people who play team sports can meet to train together and do things like conditioning or fitness sessions, although anything involving physical contact is not allowed. It will also allow parents to accompany their children to coaching sessions carried out on a one to one basis or in small groups.
The guidance will reiterate that people should wash their hands frequently and keep equipment sharing to a minimum. Outdoor gyms, playgrounds and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools will remain closed.
It follows rules on exercise being initially relaxed from 14 May, to allow people greater access to local, outdoor physical activity. This allowed the public to go outside for unlimited exercise, alone or with their household, or one other person while adhering to social distancing rules. It also permitted outdoor sports facilities such as golf courses and tennis courts to reopen, with strict safety measures in place.
The new rules include gardens and other private outdoor spaces, provided social distancing guidelines are followed.
Background
The changes are part of a carefully-designed package to ease the burdens of lockdown in a way that is expected to keep the R rate, the average number of secondary infections produced by 1 infected person, down.
