WHILST the law in England doesn't criminalise bumping into someone in the street, stopping to socialise could land you with a hefty fine.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has raised concerns that people are not complying with lockdown rules closely enough in supermarkets and when exercising.

As mass vaccination sites opened today across the UK, Mr Zahawi was unable to give assurances that the current restrictions are sufficient, and raised concerns of people not complying with the rules.

“We don’t want to use tougher measures, the lockdown is tough, schools are shut, but it is important to remember this virus loves social interactions,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“We’re reviewing all the restrictions, but these are pretty tough at the moment. I am worried about supermarkets and people actually wearing masks and following the one-way system and making sure when it’s at capacity they wait outside the supermarket.

“I’m worried about some of the pictures I’ve seen of social interactions in parks, if you have to exercise you can go out for exercise only.”

READ MORE: Lockdown 3: How far can you travel to exercise without fear of getting a fine?

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty also issued a stark warned that the NHS was now at the “most dangerous time” in its history and appealed to the public to obey the rules or risk spreading infections.

Boris Johnson today admitted the government is ready to tighten lockdown rules: “This is a very perilous moment because everybody can sense that the vaccine is coming in and they can see that the UK is vaccinating large numbers of those that need it most.”

“My worry is, and Chris's worry is, that this is the moment when that degree of false confidence, false complacency, and that when you look at what has happened in the NHS that complacency is not merited.

“More important than us just pushing out new rules, people have got to follow the guidance.

“In supermarkets, people need to be keeping their distances, making sure that they're wearing masks, doing the right thing.

“We need to enforce the rules in supermarkets. When people are getting takeaway drinks, in cafes, then they need to avoid spreading the disease there, avoid mingling too much.”

Downing Street was unable to say whether people are allowed to get a takeaway coffee and drink it while walking with someone from another household.

It comes after two women were fined £200 each for driving five miles for a walk with a takeaway coffee.

The women claim the police classified the takeaway coffees as a picnic.

The UK recorded a further 573 coronavirus deaths yesterday as infections continued to soar.

A total of 54,940 new positive cases were recorded yesterday - the thirteenth day in a row they have been above 50,000.