UK PM Boris Johnson frees people living ALONE to visit one other single or household from Saturday - lifting 'sex ban' for couples

10th June 2020

By Daily Mail

DAILY MAIL - Boris Johnson tonight gave the green light for two households to merge into 'support bubbles' from Saturday, but only if one of them contains just one adult.

The plans will allow couples who live in separate homes to reunite – if one of them lives alone. They would then be allowed to interact as though they were one household, spending time together indoors, not having to follow the two-metre social distancing rule and would be allowed to stay overnight.

But it dashes hopes that pairs of grandparents can see their grandchildren if there is more than one adult in each house. The minor relaxations announced by the Prime Minister in the limited 'social bubble' arrangements will be devastating to those who still haven't seen parents, friends or family for months.

However a couple with one person living alone could finally see their partner again and join up with their household, meaning a sex ban that came in at the start of June will be scrapped for some people.

Additionally as part of the Prime Minister's roadmap out of lockdown he said shops could reopen on Monday if they abide by social distancing rules, as well as zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas.

Churches and other religious buildings can also re-open for individual worship, but there was no further announcements in relation to the opening of pubs.

The new social bubble rules also means that older people living alone will be able to go and stay with their children, or have their grandchildren to stay at their own homes to help with childcare.

It also means single parents can do the same with their own parents - or another single parent - to make it easier for them to juggle work and their families.

The move, announced by the Prime Minister at tonight's Downing Street press conference, is designed to help the UK's 'many lonely or isolated people' who are seen as struggling the most during the months-long lockdown.

The Prime Minister said: 'I know how how difficult the past months have been for people cut off from their family and friends.

'There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves, who are by themselves and struggling'.

He admitted that there would be many people disappointed by the restrictions on eligibility but cautioned that the change was not an excuse for a free-for-all.

'We are making this change to support those who are particularly lonely as a result of lockdown measures,' he said.

'It's a targeted intervention to limit the most harmful effects of the current social restrictions.

'It is emphatically not designed for people who don't qualify to start meeting inside other people's homes, because that remains against the law.'

The plan announced does not allow two-parent families to form a support bubble with another similar family.

It means that thousands of married couples struggling to hold down their jobs and home-school and care for children will still have to go it alone.

And in another restriction, households cannot be in more than one bubble, meaning some agonising choices to be made.

Additionally, if any members of a bubble come down with coronavirus symptoms, all members of it will have to self-isolate for 14 days as per current advice.

There is no limit on the distance between the two homes in the bubble. Local homes would be preferred but officials accept this is not always possible.

But questions are likely to be asked over how well the scheme can be policed, with No 10 admitting it will be 'based on trust'.

Downing Street also admits many people who are not eligible will be unhappy but said it was important to move slowly to avoid a second peak in coronavirus deaths.

And officials have advised people who are currently shielding not to take part, saying it is too high a risk for them.

The sex ban was revealed at the start of June when new coronavirus regulations ruled no persons may participate in a gathering which takes place in a public or private place indoors, and consists of two or more persons.

Only those with 'reasonable excuses' are allowed to gather privately - and sex is not one of those reasons listed.

Downing Street admitted at the time that police did not have the power to go into people's homes if they believed the law was being broken, meaning it was almost completely unenforceable.

The announcement came as Britain's coronavirus death toll jumped by 109 to 40,992.

Mr Johnson has also earlier hinted that the two-metre rule will be eased as coronavirus case fall as he faced a Tory backlash over the economic 'devastation' it is causing.

The PM is coming under growing pressure to relax the instruction, which is hampering the return of schools and crippling swathes of UK plc.

Senior Conservatives are increasingly furious, with some branding the premier's leadership on the issue 'pitiful'.

There are claims that the government is preparing a shift in approach next month when pubs are due to get the go-ahead to open gardens.

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