Hugs to be allowed again in England from next week – but a public health expert advised to restrict embraces to those 'you really value a hug from'

• The UK government is expected to ease England’s lockdown from Monday, allowing indoor mixing.
• Indoor hospitality and entertainment venues are set to reopen, including cinemas and restaurants.
• 35 million people, or two-thirds of UK adults, have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19. 
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People in England will be able to hug their grandparents from next week, the UK prime minister is expected to announce on Monday. 

Boris Johnson is expected to confirm social distancing rules will change from May 17, part of the country’s roadmap for exiting quarantine it first set out in March, subject to falling coronavirus case numbers.

The change is expected to allow groups of up to 30 people to meet outdoors, and people from two different households meet indoors.

Professor Catherine Noakes, expert in airborne infections and member of the government’s scientific advisory committee, told the BBC: “I think don’t hug too frequently, keep it short, try and avoid being face to face, so perhaps turn your face away slightly, and even wearing a mask could help,”

Noakes also said that the risk of fully vaccinated elderly grandparents hugging their family members is likely to be low, but should be done cautiously. 

Under England’s lockdown roadmap, people will also be able to stay overnight in another person’s home, and bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve patrons indoors for the first time since they reopened for outdoor service in April. 

Other indoor entertainment venues, such as cinemas will also be able to reopen. Sports events will start to welcome fans back into stadiums, but with caps on numbers and social distancing measures in place. 

Last week, the government added 12 countries to a travel “green list”, which holidaymakers in England can visit from May 17 without needing to quarantine on their return.

More than two-thirds of UK adults, or 35 million people, have so far received their first vaccination dose, according to government data, with more than 17 million fully vaccinated. 

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