This is our coronavirus live blog for Saturday, May 23 as the bank holiday weekend begins under relaxed lockdown rules in England.
There are fears observance of lockdown rules is fragmenting as people travel to beauty spots and crowds make social distancing difficult.
There are a number of things people are being urged not to do this weekend and you can read a list of some of them here.
Gloucestershire police said ahead of this weekend: "Officers will be speaking to the public about the #coronavirus restrictions in place in busy areas over the Bank Holiday Weekend.
"Gatherings of more than two people from different households are still prohibited in law but please remember we cannot enforce social distancing."
Last night, officers were called to the Cotswolds after reports of parties and anti-social behaviour by the lakes.
Below, we'll bring you the latest developments from Gloucestershire and UK as the rate of infections and the number of daily deaths falls.
In Gloucestershire, 220 people in hospital have now died after testing positive for coronavirus, according to the latest NHS figures on Friday. - the same figure as Thursday.
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust has reported 34 deaths and Gloucestershire NHS Foundation Trust has 186 deaths recorded.
In Gloucestershire, there have also been four new cases of coronavirus recorded over the same time period. The total now stands at 1,358
Updates as they happened in Gloucestershire and the UK in the blog below.
Police tell couple who had driven six hours for a Cotswolds holiday to go back home
A couple who had driven for six hours to their Cotswolds holiday let were greeted by a PCSO.
They were told to turn round and make the six-hour journey back home.
Writing on twitter, Cotswolds police said:
Today a couple travelled six hours to spend a few days at a holiday let in Stow.
Unfortunately they were greeted by PCSO Symes who told them to travel six hours back.
Holiday homes are not open for business. You can travel as far as you want for exercise but must return home.
UK figures latest
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said 36,675 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Friday, up by 282 from 36,393 the day before.
In the 24-hour period up to 9am on Saturday, 116,585 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 2,959 positive results.
Overall a total of 3,348,507 tests have been carried out and 257,154 cases have been confirmed positive
£283 million funding for public transport announced by Transport Secretary
Grant Shapps has announced the government will pump £283 million into funding public transport.
The Transport Secretary said the funding will go on bus and rail travel, to make adjustment to vehicles, signage and deep cleaning.
Full story here
UK death toll rises by 282
36,675 people who had tested positive for Covid-19 have now died across all settings, the Government has said
All the lockdown restrictions that could be lifted on June 1
Boris Johnson addressed the nation on May 13, and said people were now allowed to leave their house more than once a day for exercise.
But when will lockdown end and what could change from June 1?
Here, the Mirror looks at which wave of lockdown restrictions could be lifted next.
No swimming at Woodchester Park
Stroud police said Woodchester Park has closed, following discussion with the National Trust Cotswolds because the lakes are not a safe place to swim.
They said on twitter:
We’re working with @NTCotswolds rangers to encourage compliance with virus regs at Woodchester Park.
Sadly the park has had to close.
The lakes are not a safe place to swim and ‘lockdown’ is not over. It is beautiful but please visit after the park reopens.
Don't light bonfires this weekend
This was the scene in Dursley on Friday evening after a bonfire spread to nearby trees.
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said:
Please remember to only have a bonfire if it is absolutely necessary.
Keep it small / contained and ensure that there is little or no wind.
Cheese Rolling is off - stay away from Cooper's Hill say police
Police have said there will be patrols to make sure people do not congregate at Cooper’s Hill, where the Cheese Rolling event would traditionally take place on the second May Bank Holiday.
A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Police said: “We are aware that the annual cheese-rolling event, which was due to take place at Cooper’s Hill on Monday (25 May) has been cancelled because of Covid-19.
“The event usually attracts up to 8,000 participants and spectators, and we know how disappointed regular attendees will be that it is not taking place this year.
“However, we would urge them to respect the legislation and government guidance, which prevents large groups of people meeting in one place, and find other ways of enjoying the Bank Holiday.
“As well as breaching the rules they could put themselves and other people at risk of injury and could add to the burden of emergency services, in particular the NHS.
“There will be police patrols in the area, as well as other key beauty spots in Gloucestershire, and we will continue to engage with those seen to be breaching regulations and ignoring guidance.
“We will, as always, explain our reasons and encourage people to return home but will use enforcement, if necessary, against anyone who refuses to co-operate.”
Visit the Cotswolds for a walk, not for the day
The message from the Cotswolds is ‘come for a walk, but not for a day’ as tourism is still in lockdown.
Cotswold District Council Cabinet Member for health, Wellbeing and Public Safety, Councillor Jenny Forde said: “Normally the people of the Cotswolds welcome visitors from all across the UK, but people need to be aware that the tourism industry has not yet reopened.
“All of our wonderful tourist attractions remain closed. The shops, cafes and pubs that all support tourism are not open.
“Local public toilets also remain closed in line with public health advice.
“Tourism is still in lockdown. By all means come for a walk, but not for a day.”
Who am I allowed to see outside my household?
The lockdown rules in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are different, and there are a number of altering measures and policies in place.
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.
England
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.
Wales
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.
Scotland
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.
Easing two-metre rule will continue to be under scrutiny, health chiefs say
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.
Don't drive to Wales
Bank holiday sun-seekers are being warned not to try to sneak into Wales to avoid the crowds which have marred English beaches.
Police say they will be patrolling the border between Gloucestershire and Wales this weekend to stop people flouting the lockdown restrictions.
More here
Reports of parties by the lakes in the Cotswolds
Gloucestershire police specials were called out to reports of parties and anti-social behaviour in the Cotswolds
People arriving in the UK from June must self-isolate for 14 days
Two-week quarantines will be imposed on new arrivals to the UK from June 8, with fines for anyone who breaches the measure to prevent new waves of coronavirus from overseas.
Home Secretary Priti Patel announced on Friday that mandatory self-isolation would not apply to people coming from Ireland, medics tackling Covid-19 and seasonal agricultural workers.
Ms Patel said:
As the world begins to emerge from what we hope is the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, we must look to the future and protect the British public by reducing the risk of cases crossing our border.
We are introducing these new measures now to keep the transmission rate down and prevent a devastating second wave.
I fully expect the majority of people will do the right thing and abide by these measures. But we will take enforcement action against the minority of people who endanger the safety of others.
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