What you can and can't do after coronavirus lockdown easing

Devon and Cornwall Police has updated its advice by giving answers to a number of frequently asked questions, including about travel, working, who people can now meet and how they spend their time outside.

It said: "With the current situation regarding Covid-19 (coronavirus), we are living in unprecedented times.

"With this in mind, we have pulled together some of the more commonly asked questions you might have.

"We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert."

They stressed this meant that people must still stay at home as much as possible, work from home if they could, limit contact with other people, keep their distance if they went out (at least two metres apart), wash their hands regularly and not leave home if they or anyone in their household had coronavirus symptoms.

Read next: Devon and Cornwall Police issue same number of lockdown fines as whole of Wales

Other questions answered by the force include:

Can I go to work?

The Government's position remains that everyone who can work from home should do so. You should travel to work, including to provide voluntary or charitable services, where you cannot work from home and your workplace is open.

At all times, workers should follow the guidance on self-isolation if they or anyone in their household shows coronavirus symptoms.

What are the rules for tradespeople such as gardeners, plumbers, cleaners or nannies?

You can continue work, providing that you are well and have no symptoms, however mild, and no one in your household has symptoms.

Can a member of my household drive me to and from work?

Yes. The restrictions are in place to help us stop the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus) and avoiding public transport is a sensible measure. However, be sure to wash your hands when you reach your destination.

Can I travel on public transport for essential journeys if I avoid peak times?

Yes. However, you should cycle or walk wherever possible. Before you travel on public transport, consider if your journey is necessary and if you can, stay local.

My car is due for an MOT. What do I do?

As always, police officers will use their discretion, taking personal situations into account.

From March 30, 2020, MOT due dates for cars, motorcycles and light vans will be extended by six months. Vehicles that were due an MOT before March 30 are subject to different guidance.

You must make sure your vehicle is safe to drive (‘roadworthy’). It can be unsafe even if your MOT expiry date has been extended.

I am a university student living away from home. Can I travel to relocate to the family home?

In general, leaving your home - the place you live - to stay at another home is not allowed.

If a student is moving permanently to live back at their family home, this is permitted.

Can I go shopping with a member of my household or do I have to go by myself?

Ask yourself whether it’s essential that both of you go. Sometimes it will be, for example if there is no one else available to look after a child.

It’s important that we all reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, so if you can go alone that will help cut down potential chances of contact with others.

Can more than one person travel in a car to get to and from work?

If you normally share a vehicle with people from other households for essential journeys, we recommend you find a different way to travel.

If you have to travel with people outside your household group, try to share the transport with the same people each time and keep to small groups of people at any one time.

Can you stop people travelling long distances to beaches?

People can now spend as much time outside as they want and there are no limits on travelling long distances.

If there are groups not of the same household, there may be still be a role for police – in engaging, explaining, encouraging and, only as a last resort, enforcing.

The following activities are not in the list of examples of reasonable excuses:

To go on holiday - this includes to visit and stay overnight at a holiday home or second home.

To visit the homes of friends and family (exceptions include to protect a vulnerable person, for medical purposes or to escape risk of harm).

Travelling to outdoor spaces in Wales and Scotland for recreation (not exercise) may result in offences being committed in those jurisdictions, and so may not be a reasonable excuse for leaving home.

Can I drive somewhere to do my daily exercise or walk my dog?

Yes. However, you should stay at home as much as possible.

You can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance. You shouldn’t travel with someone from outside your household unless you can practise social distancing - for example by cycling.

The key to making this work for everyone in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and across the country, is for everyone to be reasonable. If you can exercise locally near your home, please do so.

How long can you do your exercise for?

As of Wednesday, May 13, you may exercise outdoors as often as you wish.

The NHS suggests that adults should aim to be physically active every day, doing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week.

Can I swim in the sea?

Following the updates to Government guidance you can take part in watersports, including swimming in lakes, rivers and the sea. Indoor and outdoor public pools should still remain closed.

[However] as the RNLI has stated (as of Wednesday, May 13) that as there are no lifeguards on our region’s beaches, it is not recommended that you take part in any water-based activities.

Read next: RNLI issues safety reminder after lockdown lifting measures as lifeguards still not in place

Can I go surfing?

Following the updates to Government guidance you can take part in watersports, including surfing.

As above re RNLI advice. Our emergency services are already stretched and should a lifeboat crew be called to an incident in the water, it would put unnecessary pressure on our volunteers and other front line services being exposed to Covid-19 (coronavirus).

Can I go canoeing for my daily exercise?

Following the updates to Government guidance you can take part in watersports, including canoeing, kayaking and paddle-boarding.

British Canoeing, the national governing body for canoeing in the United Kingdom, has issued this statement: "We recommend that members continue to follow the government and public health guidelines and to stay at home as much as possible.

"Whiles we understand the temptation to drive to your favourite paddling places, we urge our members and all paddlers to paddle locally, to take extra care and to paddle responsibly."

Can I go angling?

Yes. The Angling Trust have prepared guidance on how to get fishing again safely. This guidance should be followed by all anglers, clubs, fisheries, coaches and guides.

Can I visit horses? Can horse riding be my exercise for the day?

Yes, you are able to visit your horses and ride them for exercise. Please ensure you are adhering to social distancing measures, including keeping two metres apart from people outside of your household. Good hygiene is still very important to stop the spread of the virus and you should remember to wash your hands before and after contact with any animals.

If you have a horse in full livery, you must not visit them whilst you are self-isolating. You should contact your yard manager or vet to make suitable welfare arrangements. If you are too unwell to care for your animals and there is no one to help, you should call your local authority.

Am I allowed to go boating?

From Wednesday, May 13 The Canal and River Trust have stated: "Private boaters may undertake short boating trips – avoiding use of locks and any staff-operated structures if possible – providing, as per current government guidance, they do not stay away from home overnight and return to their home mooring (where they have one)."

Residents of harbour islands may need to use watercraft to visit shops or to have medical treatment, and in these cases the boat may be considered a mode of transport.

If your boat is your primary residence then this is where you must stay during the current lockdown period. This is only if you do not have a residential property elsewhere – a residence on land should take primacy over a boat.

Commercial marine entities who cannot work from home, for example commercial fishing, pilot boats, marina boat transportation operations, are able to continue operating and any travel related to this should be strictly for work purposes.

I have bees. Can I tend to my hives during lockdown?

Yes. DEFRA has defined bees as livestock, which conveys a duty of care on beekeepers to maintain hives and generally go about their business of making sure that their bees are safe and healthy.

Should police stop people from sunbathing/sitting on a bench/driving to exercise?

As of Wednesday, May 13, the public are able to spend time outdoors – for example sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing. This should be alone, with members of your household or with no more than one person outside of your household whilst adhering so social distancing measures.

You should still stay at home as much as possible.

The public should show civic duty and common sense and follow social distancing guidelines, which protect the NHS and will save lives.

Can I exercise with someone outside of my household?

From Wednesday, May 13 you are allowed to take unlimited exercise outside, alone, with your household, or with one person who is not in your household as long as you stay two metres apart.

Are you going to stop tourists visiting?

We are working with our partners to ensure we have one clear, consistent message for the public – do not travel to Devon and Cornwall.

Day trips to outdoor open space, in a private vehicle, are permitted. However, we urge you to please stay at home and do not undertake travel that isn’t essential.

Can I drive to my second home?

No. Leaving your primary place of residence to stay at another home for a holiday or other purpose is not allowed. This includes visiting second homes.

Fixed penalty notices are an option available to officers based on their judgement and discretion, as travelling and staying at a second home is not a reasonable excuse for being outside of the home.

Can I attend a funeral?

Although many businesses are closed, you can still attend funerals where the congregation is immediate family. A carer can also attend if required or a friend if there are no family members attending.

How do you prove that someone is in the same household as you?

The rules have been designed to protect people, not to catch people out. Our approach is to engage, explain and encourage people to comply with the rules, and proof may not be deemed necessary.

If gatherings of people are asked to disperse, officers may also make reasonable judgement as to whether these people are part of one household. For example, a group of six teenagers are unlikely to all live together, whereas two adults and two children are most likely to be from the same household.

Of course, we appreciate that this is not demonstrative of all households and there may be exceptions to this, but reasonable judgement must be applied.

I am separated from the mother/father of my child who has custody. Am I able to visit my child?

The new regulations state “children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangement for access to, and contact between, parents and children”.

Any existing visitation arrangements that are in place can continue.

I have a tradesperson booked in to carry out work, is this allowed?

Work carried out by tradespeople can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and has no symptoms.

It will be important to ensure that Public Health England guidelines, including maintaining a two metre (six feet) distance from any household occupants, are followed to ensure everyone’s safety.

I’m an electrician/plumber and have outstanding work at numerous homes. Is this acceptable to continue if all social distancing precautions are followed?

You can continue work, providing that you are well and have no symptoms, however mild (and no one in their own household has symptoms).

Can I care for animals not located at my home? For example, chickens on my allotment.

Yes. If you have livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, or poultry you can continue to care for them and have a duty to do so.

Am I able to move in with different family members during the lockdown for additional support?

If at all possible, you should avoid moving house.

However, there may be some situations where moving is the best option. This could include households where a key worker is isolating away from the main family and additional childcare is needed, where vulnerable people require support that they are unable to receive from volunteers or neighbours or where you need to leave an abusive situation.

Once you have moved, you should avoid doing so again until the restrictions have been lifted.

Can I go shooting during the lockdown period?

Following the updates to Government guidance, the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC) are advising (as of Wednesday, May 13) that deer stalking, pest control, conservation and seasonal work on game shoots are possible as long as they are legal and adhere to social distancing measures.

Now that some businesses are starting to reopen, does that mean I can start going out shopping for non-essentials again?

It is still very important that people stay home unless necessary to go out for specific reasons set out in law. This includes going to shops that are permitted to be open – to get things like food and medicine, and to collect goods ordered online or on the phone.

Officers will not go through people’s shopping to ensure that everything they are buying is classed as a basic necessity. Our style continues to be one of engagement with the public, with enforcement being a last resort. The vast majority of the public have shown a true community effort in adhering to the Government’s restrictions and we would like to thank you for your continued support.

Can I shop at DIY or hardware shops during lockdown?

Hardware shops are included on the Government’s list of shops that can remain open during lockdown.

However, you should still minimise the amount of time spent outside your home and follow any social distancing measures put in place by businesses to protect their staff and customers.

Do you want us to report groups of people we see?

Gatherings of more than two people are only permitted in very limited circumstances, such as if they are of the same household, if it is necessary for work purposes, to attend a funeral, and if it is reasonably necessary for some situations such as providing care and assistance to a vulnerable person.

If you are concerned that you have seen a gathering which contravenes this guidance, we would encourage you to contact us by emailing us via our 101 form on the Force website.