Matt Hancock has urged people not to have sex outside of 'established relationships' - sorry if that ruins your plans for the weekend.
The health secretary appeared on Sky News where he said people 'need to be careful' and 'sensible' following the introduction of stricter lockdown measures this week.
Asked about the government's advice that only couples who are in 'established' relationships should be getting it on, Hancock said: "In these rules that we have to bring in, there have to be boundaries, to coin a phrase.
"If you're saying that two households shouldn't mix, which we are in some parts of the country - in the North East, the North West, in Scotland, in parts of Wales - then you have to then define what is the boundary of that."
Advert
He continued: "I think we should stick to the letter of it, which is it is okay in an established relationship.
"It just means that people need to be careful, they need to be sensible.
"If you're in a relationship that is well established... what it means is people realising that coming into close contact with people from other households, then that is how the virus spreads."
He then joked that he knew he was 'in an established relationship' with his missus, which I'm sure was music to her ears.
Advert
According to guidelines shared by the Department of Health and Social Care: "People in an established relationship do not need to socially distance."
But it warns that those who are in 'the early stages of a relationship' must take 'particular care to follow the guidance on social distancing'.
The guidance adds: "If you intend to have close contact with someone, you should discuss how you can help to prevent risks of transmission as a couple, for example, by ensuring you are both avoiding close contact with people you do not live with."
Advert
The new rules don't specify what actually counts as an 'established relationship' so people will have to apply a bit of common sense to ensure they're not falling foul of the law.
Anyone found breaking the rules could be whacked with a £200 fine that can be doubled for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: UK News, Coronavirus