Can I meet people indoors if everyone has had the vaccine? Boris Johnson clarifies rule over vaccinated people meeting indoors

It's the question everyone has been asking since the vaccine programme ramped up over the past few months - can I meet other vaccinated people indoors?

The rules changed last week to allow for two households to mix in gardens or outdoor spaces again, up to a maximum of six people.

Britons have been taking advantage of the rule in some sizzling spring sunshine, and scenes of packed parks have been spotted in Leeds and across Yorkshire.

But what about if you and your friends and family have had the jab?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson clarified the rules in a question and answer session on Friday morning.

He said: "You can meet up as two households or six people outside. Outside is much safer than indoors as far as spreading the virus goes.

"Can I now meet my friends and family members indoors if they are vaccinated?

"There I'm afraid the answer is no, because we're not yet at that stage, we're still very much in the world where you can meet friends and family outdoors under the rule of six or two households and even though your friends and family members may be vaccinated, the vaccines are not giving 100% protection and that's why we just need to be cautious.

"We don't think they entirely reduce or remove the risk of transmission."

So there you have it - NO meeting up indoors with other people, even if you've all had the vaccine, according to the official rules.

It means that household mixing will have to wait until later in the year when more restrictions are lifted.

Will the UK get a third wave and delay the lockdown easing?

The UK is unlikely to experienc a third wave of Covid-19 on the scale of that which is currently sweeping through Europe, a leading expert in public health has said.

Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, told Times Radio: “I think we are in a very different position for two main reasons – the first one is that they are dealing with the B117 (variant) which unfortunately we exported to them and caused us huge challenges – still does – but much more in the winter.”

She continued: “More importantly, 11.6% of citizens in the EU on average have been given their first dose of the vaccine – that’s all people, not just all adults – compared to over 40% of people in the UK, so you can see they are in a different place than we are.”

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, has urged the Government to “just make it practical for venues to try and recover their businesses” as some restrictions are set to ease in April.

She explained that under the guidance people will be able to go inside to use the toilets but they are not allowed to go inside the venue to pay for alcoholic beverages.

She told BBC Breakfast: “This is a problem for many of our pubs, particularly those in rural areas, that perhaps do not have a wifi that extends to an outdoor area and where payment for them at the table would be impossible for them.

“It is just an impracticality for many businesses.”