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As the country slowly eases out of lockdown, many questions still remain unanswered. Like, when could hotels and holiday homes reopen in the UK? Can I use my friend’s toilet when I visit them in lockdown? And will schools be open in the summer ? And as restrictions around some aspects of life continue, there’s good news for people who live alone, who can now form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household – but can they also stay overnight with that household? And what are the rules for other people regarding overnight stays? Here’s what you need to know… Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live When might we be able to stay with friends and family again? Under the new rules about support bubbles, from midnight on Saturday morning anyone who lives alone or anyone who is a single parent with children under 18 is now allowed to visit one other household and spend time in their home without having to comply to the two metre social distancing rule indoors. Those people are also allowed to stay overnight – so, for example, a person who lives alone who chooses their parents’ home as their support bubble can indeed stay overnight if they want do. The same applies to people who live alone who may want to spend the night at friends’ houses – while couples who do not live together can also stay together overnight, provided one of them lives alone and can visit their partner’s house as their support bubble. Boris Johnson explained on Wednesday: ‘From this weekend we will allow single adult households – that’s adults living alone or single parents with children under 18 – to form a support bubble with one other household. One person households can form 'support bubble' with one other household.
‘All those inner support bubbles will be able to act as though they are the same household, meaning they can stay inside each others homes and do not need to stay two metres apart.’ People who live alone are only allowed to choose one household with which to form their support bubble – visiting several different households in this manner is not allowed – but they can still meet with other people in a group of up to six, provided this is outdoors. Can anyone else stay overnight with friends and family?
Social distancing measures are still in place under most circumstances Currently not, as the new rules only apply to people who live alone – people who live with others are still banned from overnight stays, with a few notable exceptions. The most recent advice states that ‘no person may, without reasonable excuse, stay overnight at any place other than the place where they are living.’ The list of what would constitute a reasonable excuse includes: Staying at a family or friend’s house to attend a funeral If you are an elite athlete, a coach of an elite athlete, or a parent of the elite athlete, and need to stay elsewhere for the purposes of training or competition If you need somewhere to stay while moving house You need to care for a vulnerable person or provide emergency assistance For work or volunteering If it’s necessary to do so for a legal reason If a child of separated parents splits their time between households If it is unsafe or unlawful to return home Boris Johnson advises parents with COVID-19 should stay at home or travel.
The Government set out new regulations last week, banning people from socialising indoors with a member outside of their household bubble, but clarified that police will not be able to enter homes they suspect of breaking the rules. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said officers will only be able to enter homes ‘where they suspect serious criminal activity is taking place under separate and existing laws’. According to the current lockdown restrictions, people in England are allowed to socialise in groups of up to six, but only outdoors, and if they can maintain social distancing. Rules vary slightly in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
It is permitted to socialise in private outdoor spaces such as gardens, but you are only allowed to enter someone’s house to pass through to access said space, or to use their bathroom. While setting out the eased measures, Boris Johnson said: ‘It remains the case that people should not be inside the homes of their friends and families unless it is to access the garden’ or use the bathroom. But chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned that ‘it’s absolutely critical’ that anyone doing so ‘wipes everything down’ to minimise the risk of contamination.