People who flout the near-lockdown will be fined £30 from Thursday, Downing Street says – with “significantly” higher penalties if they continue to disobey.
The figure was revealed amid confusion over whether live-apart girlfriends or boyfriends can continue to meet-up with their partners during the crackdown.
Boris Johnson’s spokesman appeared to indicate that lovers should not see each other if they live in separate homes, in order “to save lives”.
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However, he then acknowledged confusion – even at the heart of government – given that the guidelines do allow two people to gather in public.
“We are working at pace and, as people raise these issues with us, we will get clarity for them as soon as possible,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the regulations allowing the police to punish people will be in place on Thursday, with fines to start at £30 – and with convictions for a failure to pay.
The spokesman declined to comment on a report that punishments could reach a whopping £1,000, but warned: “We will keep this under review and can increase it significantly if necessary in order to ensure public compliance.”
Asked how the lockdown would be enforced, he said: “As is usual the police will use their own discretion in their use of the powers and will do whatever is appropriate.”
The comments came as Downing Street also revealed there were 5,065 tests for coronavirus on Monday, far short of the daily figure of 10,000 it is aiming for this week.
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A rose is delivered by drone to a woman on Mother’s Day in Jounieh, Lebanon
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Women dance on their balcony as a radio station plays music for a flash mob to raise spirits in Rome
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A skeleton stands on a balcony in Frankfurt, Germany
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The film Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna is projected on a building in Rome
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A woman uses a basket tied to a rope to pull a delivery of groceries up to her balcony in Naples, Italy
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DJ Francesco Cellini plays for his neighbours from the rooftop terrace of his flat block in Rome
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A woman gestures from her balcony in Barcelona
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Cellist Karina Nunez performs for her neighbours at the balcony of her flat in Panama City
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DJ Nash Petrovic live streams a set from his roof in Brooklyn
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People applaud medical workers from their balconies in Modiin, Israel
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A Brooklyn resident relaxes in a hammock hung on their balcony
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Residents toast during a “safe distance” aperitif time between neighbours in Anderlecht, Belgium
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Musician Adam Moser plays for neighbours from his balcony in Budapest, Hungary
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A man and his son on their balcony in Brooklyn
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A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome
Reuters
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A rose is delivered by drone to a woman on Mother’s Day in Jounieh, Lebanon
AFP/Getty
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Women dance on their balcony as a radio station plays music for a flash mob to raise spirits in Rome
Reuters
3/15
A skeleton stands on a balcony in Frankfurt, Germany
AP
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The film Le ragazze di Piazza di Spagna is projected on a building in Rome
AP
5/15
A woman uses a basket tied to a rope to pull a delivery of groceries up to her balcony in Naples, Italy
EPA
6/15
DJ Francesco Cellini plays for his neighbours from the rooftop terrace of his flat block in Rome
Reuters
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A woman gestures from her balcony in Barcelona
EPA
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Cellist Karina Nunez performs for her neighbours at the balcony of her flat in Panama City
Reuters
9/15
DJ Nash Petrovic live streams a set from his roof in Brooklyn
Reuters
10/15
People applaud medical workers from their balconies in Modiin, Israel
Reuters
11/15
A Brooklyn resident relaxes in a hammock hung on their balcony
Reuters
12/15
Residents toast during a “safe distance” aperitif time between neighbours in Anderlecht, Belgium
Reuters
13/15
Musician Adam Moser plays for neighbours from his balcony in Budapest, Hungary
Reuters
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A man and his son on their balcony in Brooklyn
Reuters
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A man sits alone on a roof terrace in Rome
Reuters
However, the spokesman insisted there was encouraging news on ventilators, saying there were now more than 10,000 on the frontline, with “5000 coming online”.
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He also suggested workers could not refuse their bosses’ instruction to come into work if they, and members of their household, were well and their job could not be done from home.
Asked whether the prime minister would be postponing his own “early summer” wedding, after nuptials were outlawed, the spokesman replied: “I don’t have anything for you in relation to dates.”
On the position facing girlfriends and boyfriends living apart and wanting to meet, the spokesman said: People should look at the guidelines and use their common sense in that regard.”
He then said: “The rules are clear in relation to when you are out of the house, you should only do so with members of your own household, or if it’s for work reasons,” – before promising clarification.
