People CAN go shopping more than once a week: Downing Street clarifies rules after minister Grant Shapps says the public should only make a single trip to the shops under coronavirus lockdown
- Transport Secretary’s comments put him at odds with official guidance
- Used BBC interview to say people should get supplies once a week
- But rules say you should shop ‘as infrequently as possible’ – with no limit on trips
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Downing Street was forced to clarify the rules on shopping today after a senior Cabinet sowed confusion by suggesting people could only make one weekly trip to stock up.
Transport Secretary’s Grant Shapps comments during a television interview this morning appeared to put him at odds with the official Government guidance.
The official coronavirus guidance issued by the Government does not set out how often people are allowed to leave their home to go shopping, but recommends that it is ‘as infrequent as possible’.
Mr Shapps made the comments in a BBC interview, after police forces were accused of heavy-handed tactics in enforcing the lockdown restrictions imposed by the Government.
He acknowledged there had been ‘teething problems’ but said people should follow the rules.
‘People know the rules that have been set, try and shop just once a week,’ he told the BBC.
‘Just do the essentials, not everything else.’
But asked about Mr Shapps’ comments a short time later, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘The guidance does not specify that, no, the guidance says it should be ”as infrequent as possible”.’
Mr Shapps made the comments in a BBC interview, after police forces were accused of heavy-handed tactics in enforcing the lockdown restrictions imposed by the Government.
The official coronavirus guidance issued by the Government does not set out how often people are allowed to leave their home to go shopping, but recommends that it is ‘as infrequent as possible’.
He went on to say that for some people ‘their judgment will be that that will be once a week, but it’s not what the guidance specifies’.
The spokesman added: ‘The guidance in relation to only making journeys when necessary and shopping as infrequently as possible is very clear.’
Mr Shapps said there had been ‘one or two instances’ of police being overzealous with enforcement measures but forces were generally being ‘sensible’.
He said: ‘I think the police are doing a difficult job.
‘There will be one or two instances where they have perhaps not approached it in the right way but in general, actually, across the country not only are people complying very well but, generally speaking, the police are taking a very sensible approach to it.’
Mr Shapps also said people should not be getting into cars to drive to the countryside to take their daily exercise.
‘The simple thing is, if at all possible, please take exercise close to your home,’ he told the BBC.
‘I’ve got dogs and, rather than put them in the car and drive somewhere with them, it’s about stepping out of the house and walking them around the block, or whatever it requires.’
However, the Government guidance differs from what has actually been made law.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations 2020 for England, which were enacted on Thursday giving police powers to enforce rules with fines and even arrests, says: ‘During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.’
A reasonable excuse includes to buy food and exercise.
The legislation does not specify – or limit – how many times per day someone can leave their house. Neither does it forbid people from using cars or any other vehicle in any circumstance.