[ad_1]
Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday, as the Government seeks to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use a press conference on Wednesday to announce the change in the law after the number of positive daily Covid-19 cases in the UK rose to nearly 3,000.
The legal limit for social gatherings will be reduced from 30 people to six. It will apply to indoor and outdoor gatherings, including private homes, as well as parks, pubs, and restaurants.
Meetings of more than six people will be allowed when the household or support bubble is greater than six, or when the meeting is for work or educational purposes.
Exemptions will also apply for weddings, funerals and team sports organized by Covid-Secure, with a full list to be published by the government before Monday.
What are the new rules?
As of Monday, gatherings of more than six people will be illegal.
Currently, the legal limit for meetings is 30 people.
Why are they being introduced?
Medical Director Professor Chris Whitty and Senior Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance have agreed that action is urgent after the number of positive cases rose sharply.
In a Zoom meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week, law enforcement said they would like to see the rules on social contact simplified.
Where will they apply?
The rules will apply throughout England for all ages and for indoor and outdoor gatherings.
This will include private homes, parks, pubs, and restaurants and will apply to all ages.
This means that you cannot sit at a pub or restaurant table with more than five friends at any one time, although it is unclear how many ‘bubbles’ that group might be a part of.
A comprehensive guide to what can and cannot happen will be published later.
Will there be any exemptions?
There will be some scenarios in which the restrictions do not apply, such as if your household or support bubble has more than six people, or if you gather in a large group for the sake of work or education.
Weddings, funerals, and organized team sports will also be exempt if carried out safely by Covid.
What will be the penalties for breaking the rules?
The government hopes that the new rules will make it easier for the police to break up large gatherings.
Failure to comply with the new rules could mean a fine of £ 100, which will double with each subsequent violation up to £ 3,200.
What does the Prime Minister say?
The prime minister will officially announce the new rules at a press conference on Wednesday.
He is then expected to tell the public: “We have to act now to stop the spread of the virus.
“Therefore, we are simplifying and strengthening the rules about social contact, making them easier to understand and for the police to enforce.
“It’s absolutely critical that people now abide by these rules and remember the basics: wash your hands, cover your face, keep everyone’s space, and get tested for symptoms.”
What are the rules in other parts of the UK?
In Scotland, up to eight people are allowed to meet indoors, while groups of 15 from up to five households can meet outdoors, but people must maintain a social distance.
People there are not supposed to meet people from more than 4 households in total, whether indoors or out, on any one day.
In Wales up to 30 people can meet outdoors and in Northern Ireland the number is 15.
How can we socialize safely?
A new campaign has been launched to encourage people to help stop the spread of the coronavirus as we are more likely to socialize indoors during the fall and winter.
The Hands Face Space campaign urges people to make sure they wash their hands, wear a mask when appropriate, and maintain social distancing.
The campaign claims that these are the three most effective ways the public can contain the spread of the virus.
[ad_2]
