Britons have been left baffled by Boris Johnson‘s latest coronavirus lockdown plan for ‘support bubbles’ as they worked out whether they could visit relatives.
The plans mean couples could be reunited after being kept apart by restrictions and some grandparents will be able to hug their grandchildren from Saturday.
But many people hve since taken to Twitter to criticise the plans which will allow adults living alone or single parents in England to mix with one other household.
Some pointed out the absurdity of reopening theme parks and zoos while still not being allowed to see relatives because they are a two-adult household.
Others said that they would soon be allowed to visit shopping centres from next Monday when non-essential stores reopen, but still cannot see their relatives.
The new ‘support bubbles’ will allow single-adult households to interact with another household as though they were one, spending time together indoors, not having to follow the two-metre rule and being allowed to stay overnight.
Officials have admitted the measure is not going to benefit everyone but has been targeted at those who had been left isolated by the lockdown restrictions.
It allows children in single-parent households to see one set of grandparents, while a grandparent living alone can now visit the house of their child and grandchildren.
But the move announced by the Prime Minister yesterday would not allow a couple to visit both parents as neither household would comprise a single adult.
Can I see my grandchildren? What about my boyfriend who lives in a flatshare? Everything you need to know about Boris Johnson’s ‘support bubbles’
Here is how some people will be affected and what the new rules are…
Who might benefit from the new rules?
Elderly people living alone could form a bubble with the household of an adult son or daughter enabling them to visit and even hug their grandchildren for the first time since lockdown.
Single parents could pair up with their own parents allowing them to share childcare duties and reuniting grandparents and grandchildren.
Couples who do not live together will be able to visit and to stay with each other.
Who is covered by the new arrangements?
Adults living alone or single parents living with children under the age of 18.
I’m a grandparent and I live with my spouse, can I see my young grandchildren?
Sadly no. The support bubble must contain one person who lives alone. Widowers, widows and divorced grandparents, as long as they lived alone, would be allowed to see their grandchildren.
I live at home with my parents but my boyfriend has his own flat and he lives along, can I stay over?
Yes you can. He can also come to stay at your house with you if you want.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at Downing Street yesterday about the new measures
I have my own place but my partner lives in a shared flat, can I see her?
It depends. The flat share can only join one other household. So if several people live in the flatshare and know individuals who live alone – whether they be a friend, partner, parent, or grandparent – they will have to decide which other house they join. They cannot join multiple households, just one.
The houseshare cannot act as a ‘hub’ bubble like the spoke of a wheel with each flatmate in a different bubble with their friend/partner/parent/grandparent etc…
I’m a single mum with three small kids and a full-time job. My friend is in a similar position and we are both struggling, can we share childcare?
Yes. If you are both single parents living only with your children you can form one bubble between you. So one of you can look after the children while the other works, even in different houses.
Can households form more than one bubble?
No. The arrangement must be exclusive with no switching of bubble partners.
Will people have to formally register these bubble arrangements?
No, it will be taken on trust. No 10 says the public has shown ‘great responsibility’ in following the social distancing rules so far.
Is there any limit on the distance between households in a bubble?
Again no, although officials are suggesting people should try to ‘stay local’ where possible.
Can you chop and change who you see?
No. Two households that have formed a bubble together must keep the arrangement exclusive to avoid increased risk of spreading the virus.
What about vulnerable people who are shielding due to their age or health problems?
At the moment, officials say it is too soon for them to be able to join support bubbles.
What about parents who are separated but who currently share childcare with the children moving between the two households?
That will continue. If the parents are the only adult in the household they can form a bubble with another household – meaning the children could potentially be in two bubbles, one for each parent.
What happens if someone in a bubble develops coronavirus symptoms?
All members of both households in the bubble must self-isolate for 14 days.