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What is the ‘rule of six’?
The phrase “rule of six” was used by Boris Johnson in his press conference on Wednesday, where he announced the ban on meetings of groups of more than six people in England, applying indoors and outdoors from Monday.
The new law replaces the existing guidance on no more than two households gathered indoors, which means that the six people can be up to six households.
Johnson warned that there would be on-the-spot fines of £ 100, to be doubled in repeat offenses up to £ 3,200, for those who break the new rules, which he said were to “avoid a second national lockdown.”
Households and support bubbles of more than six people are exempt.
Since then Scotland and Wales have introduced their own modified restrictions, also based on six-person gatherings, but varying on some key England details.
How are the rules different in Scotland?
On Thursday, Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon introduced a new limit of six people from two households together, which applies indoors, in homes, pubs and restaurants, and outdoors, including private gardens, but exempts children. under 12 years old.
He said he was asking people in Scotland to follow the revised limit immediately, although it would officially go into effect next Monday.
Children under the age of 12 who were part of the two-household reunion would not count toward the six-person limit, and there is a limited exception for weddings, civil partnerships, and funerals.
The outright ban on private indoor gatherings continues to apply in five council areas in the west of Scotland: East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Glasgow City, where there has been a surge in infections in recent weeks.
Six only apply to indoor gatherings in Wales?
Yes, Wales will limit the number of people who can gather indoors at any one time to six from Monday, excluding children under the age of 11, and they must all belong to the same extended family group.
Up to four households can join together to form an extended household in Wales. This means that all people living in these separate households become part of an extended household for the purposes of coronavirus restrictions.
There are no changes to the rules about outdoor gatherings. Meetings of up to 30 people are allowed outdoors in Wales. But people must continue to maintain physical distance from people outside of their home or extended home.
These changes will not apply in the Caerphilly County City Council area, where local restrictions have been introduced, including a suspension of indoor extended home gatherings, to control a sharp increase in cases.
What about Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has not announced any change in the number of people who can meet. But localized coronavirus restrictions will be introduced in Belfast and Ballymena.
People from two or more households in these areas will not be able to meet in private settings. There are a number of limited exceptions, including the provision of child care and households that have formed one social bubble with another.
No more than six people, from no more than two households, may meet in private gardens. In Northern Ireland, the number of people who can gather inside a private home has already dropped from 10 people in four households to six people in two households last month due to an increase in Covid-19 cases. Up to 15 people can meet outdoors.
Where can I find more information about the latest changes?
Here’s an updated guide for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
