Boris Johnson elbow bumps police officer while not wearing mask, breaking social distancing guidelines

PM urged Britons not to ‘lose focus’ and to keep observing the guidelines

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with police officers during a visit to North Yorkshire Police headquarters, Northallerton (AP)

Boris Johnson has been photographed greeting a police officer by bumping elbows with him whilst neither of them were wearing a mask, in breach of social distancing guidelines.

The prime minister met with police officers during a visit to North Yorkshire Police headquarters on Thursday. Speaking in the town of Northallerton, he urged Britons not to “lose focus” and to keep observing social distancing guidelines as the UK emerges out of the coronavirus lockdown.

People are required to stay at least one metre apart to prevent further transmission of Covid-19, unless with members of one's own household.

He also claimed a “massive success” in reducing the number of fatalities from coronavirus, but acknowledged that the virus was “bubbling up” in up to 30 parts of the country.

Mr Johnson said there was concern that a “resurgence of the virus” was happening in “some other European countries” and the US.

His comments came hours after figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed England has had the highest excess death rate in Europe.

The length of England’s outbreak, combined with the fact it had one of the highest peak deaths of any country, resulted in “the highest levels of excess mortality in Europe for the period as a whole”, said the ONS.

The government updated its coronavirus guidance on Thursday, extending the self-isolation period for people with Covid-19 symptoms from seven to 10 days.

No 10 has been approached for comment.