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Coronavirus: What are social distancing and lockdown rules? Coronavirus: What are social distancing and self-isolation rules?
(5 days later)
Social distancing guidance is being relaxed across the country. Social distancing means keeping apart from people to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
Rules are different in each UK nation - and rules will not ease in Leicester, which is currently under a local lockdown. The rules and guidance are being relaxed across the country.
What can I do at home? Rules are different in each UK nation - and they will not ease in Leicester, which is currently under a local lockdown.
Two households of any size can now meet inside in England. What is social distancing?
You can meet different households at different times and overnight stays are allowed. The original rule across the UK was that you had to stay 2m (6ft) away from anybody who was not a member of your household.
No more than two households should meet at any one time, and it is important that you don't see anyone if you have any coronavirus symptoms. Those rules have now been relaxed.
But social distancing still applies with everyone you don't live with - even your grandchildren. You should still ideally stay 2m (6ft) apart, but if that's not possible, you can stay 1m (3ft) apart with extra precautions such as face coverings and not sitting face-to-face.
So for the time being, unless they are in your support bubble, you can't hug them. In Scotland, however, children aged 11 or under no longer have to socially distance with others outside, so since 3 July grandchildren and grandparents have been able to share a hug. In Scotland the exemptions to the 2m rule are only in some premises such as pubs and restaurants, and face coverings are compulsory in shops.
In England, though, you should ideally stay 2m (6ft) apart, but if that's not possible, follow the "1 metre plus" guidance - using "mitigation" such as face coverings and not sitting face-to-face. And in Wales, while the 2m rule remains, the guidance is changing to reflect the fact that it is not realistic to stay that far apart in somewhere like a hairdresser's shop.
Why is a support bubble different? The only people you do not have to distance yourself from are those you live with and those you have linked to in a support bubble.
Social distancing does not have to be observed in a support bubble.
In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, single adults living alone - or single parents with children under 18 - can form a bubble with one other household of any size, and visit each other's homes. In Wales, two households of any size can now join up in a similar "extended household".In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, single adults living alone - or single parents with children under 18 - can form a bubble with one other household of any size, and visit each other's homes. In Wales, two households of any size can now join up in a similar "extended household".
Who should take extra care? Also, in Scotland, children aged 11 or under no longer have to socially distance with others outside.
People with certain underlying health conditions, or who are pregnant or aged over 70, are deemed "clinically vulnerable". They can go out, but should still take particular care. Who can I meet outside?
In England, those categorised as "clinically extremely vulnerable", or "shielders", can go outside for exercise and meet up to five other people outdoors while social distancing. They can also form a support bubble. Outdoors in England, up to 30 people from two households can meet, or a maximum of six people can meet from multiple households.
From 1 August, shielding in England will be "paused". The guidance in Northern Ireland is similar, but different in Wales and Scotland. People from different households must maintain social distancing throughout.
How do I make '1 metre plus' work at home? People who are clinically vulnerable and are "shielding" can now gather in groups of up to six people outdoors, including individuals outside of their household.
Meet outside if possible, but if you do have to be inside remember the "plus" part of the new guidelines. In Scotland, up to 15 people from five different households can meet outdoors.
Breath droplets travel further when more force is used, so try not to cough, talk loudly or sing. In Northern Ireland, up to 30 people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors.
If necessary, rearrange seating to help reduce the virus spread. In Wales,any number of people from two different households can now meet outdoors.
Remember anyone can be infectious, even if they're not showing symptoms. How do I safely host guests in my home?
What about touching surfaces when I visit? In England, two households up to a maximum of 30 people can meet indoors and overnight stays are allowed.
Avoid touching surfaces or your face. In Scotland, up to eight people from three different households can meet indoors while social distancing. In Northern Ireland, groups of up to six people not in the same household can meet indoors.
Wash your hands regularly using soap and water or hand sanitiser. In Wales, indoor meetings are still not allowed, but with indoor bars and restaurants due to reopen in August that will presumably be relaxed.
If you're hosting, clean surfaces both before and after the meeting. Wear washing-up gloves if you can. The guidance encourages people to keep windows and doors open for ventilation.
Put a cloth and bleach spray in the toilet. Ensure people wash their hands and disinfect any tap, loo seat or toilet handles they've touched. If you have guests coming for a meal, put crockery and cutlery in a dishwasher or hot soapy water (and then rinse in cold water) immediately after use.
Avoid close-contact family games.
Can I cook a meal for visitors?
Yes. Conversation at the table will pose the main risk of aerosol/droplet transmission.
So, if you eat inside, keep windows and doors open for ventilation.
Put crockery and cutlery in a dishwasher or hot soapy water (and then rinse in cold water) immediately after use.
Experts recommend the following:Experts recommend the following:
What about a socially-distanced meal out?What about a socially-distanced meal out?
Pubs, restaurants and cafes have been able to open indoors in England and Northern Ireland, as long as they follow safety guidelines. Pubs, restaurants and cafes have been able to reopen indoors in England and Northern Ireland, as long as they follow safety guidelines.
You should expect to:You should expect to:
Staff should practise good hand hygiene and social distancing, but they don't have to wear face coverings.Staff should practise good hand hygiene and social distancing, but they don't have to wear face coverings.
The government advice to employers includes:The government advice to employers includes:
Read the government guidelines for staff in pubs and restaurants and hotels and attractions.Read the government guidelines for staff in pubs and restaurants and hotels and attractions.
What about the rest of the UK? Indoor parts of pubs and restaurants will reopen in Scotland on 15 July, while in Wales they can open outdoors from 13 July and indoors from 3 August.
Northern Ireland: What is self-isolation and who should do it?
Scotland: Self-isolating means staying at home and not leaving it.
Wales: People who have symptoms of coronavirus should isolate themselves for seven days and arrange to get tested. Symptoms include:
What else is opening in England? Other members of their household should isolate for 14 days and not leave their homes.
Hotels, B&Bs, cottages, campsites and caravan parks can reopen. If you test positive you will be contacted by contact tracers, who will establish who else you might have passed on the infection to.
You can also get a haircut, go to a place of worship for communal prayer or get married with up to 30 guests. Anybody they deem to be at risk will have to isolate themselves for 14 days from the point of contact.
Read our at-a-glance guide. In England, until recently, those categorised as "clinically extremely vulnerable", or "shielders" have also been self-isolating, but they can now go outside for exercise and meet up to five other people outdoors while social distancing if they want to. They can also form a support bubble.
What if I have symptoms? From 1 August, shielding in England will be "paused". The guidance in Northern Ireland is similar, but different in Wales and Scotland.
If you show symptoms of coronavirus, such as a dry cough, high temperature or loss of taste, you must self-isolate.
Stay at home and ask others to drop off food and medicines.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have similar tracing systems.