The Government is continuing to ease coronavirus restrictions with a wide range of sectors and activities restarting. But what can you now legally do and who can you socialise with?
As reported by Island Echo yesterday (Friday), the Isle of Wight has not recorded any new cases of COVID-19 since xx July. However, the Island must still follow the rules and guidance in place nationally.
Here is a breakdown of what you can and cannot do and what changes are coming up in the next few weeks and months.
You still cannot:
- socialise indoors in groups of more than 2 households (anyone in your support bubble counts as 1 household) – this includes when dining out or going to the pub
- socialise outdoors in a group of more than 6 people from different households; gatherings larger than 6 should only take place if everyone is from exclusively from 2 households or support bubbles
- interact socially with anyone outside the group you are attending a place with, even if you see other people you know, for example, in a restaurant, community centre or place of worship
- hold or attend celebrations (such as parties) where it is difficult to maintain social distancing and avoid close social interaction – even if they are organised by businesses and venues that are taking steps to follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines
- stay overnight away from your home with members of more than 1 other household (your support bubble counts as 1 household)
- It is against the law for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place in private homes (including gardens and other outdoor spaces). Businesses and venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines can host larger groups provided they comply with the law.
What is changing in the future?
From today (25th July):
- sports facilities and venues, including indoor gyms, fitness and dance studios, indoor swimming pools and indoor water parks, can open
From 1st August:
- bowling alleys, skating rinks and casinos can open
- indoor performances to a live audience can begin to take place, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidelines and subject to the success of pilots
- small wedding receptions – sit-down meals for no more than 30 people – can take place
- all remaining close contact services – such as facial treatment and make up application – can restart
- Clinically extremely vulnerable people will no longer need to shield, though should still take particular care to follow the social distancing guidelines when meeting people
- conference and exhibition centres will be able to reopen in order to enable pilots for business events to take place – they should not yet be open fully to host events more widely
- further pilots of larger events can take place in venues, including in sports stadia and business conferences
From 1st September:
- schools, nurseries and colleges will open for all children and young people on a full-time basis (universities are working to reopen as fully as possible)
From 1st October:
- audiences will return to stadiums
- conferences and other business events to recommence in a COVID-19 Secure way
From November:
- scaling back remaining social distancing measures – contingent on a number of factors, including consideration of the specific challenges as we move into winter
Which businesses can be open today?
- all retail
- cafes, bars, pubs, and restaurants
- hotels, hostels, bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments or homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses
- hair salons and barbers, including mobile hair businesses
- spas
- nail bars and salons and beauty salons
- tanning booths and salons
- massage parlours
- tattoo parlours
- body and skin piercing services
- cinemas
- theatres and concert halls
- funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities
- outdoor swimming pools and outdoor water parks
- outdoor gyms
- playgrounds
- museums and galleries
- bingo halls
- outdoor skating rinks
- amusement arcades and other entertainment centres
- model villages
- social clubs
- indoor and outdoor attractions at aquariums, zoos, safari parks, farms, wildlife centres and any place where animals are exhibited to the public as an attraction
- indoor and outdoor areas of visitor attractions including, gardens, heritage sites, film studios and landmarks
- places of worship
- crematoria, including any buildings and grounds
- community Centres
- libraries
Which businesses must remain closed?
- Nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques
- Sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars
- Indoor play areas, including soft-play areas
Can I visit people indoors?
Yes, you are able to meet indoors in groups of up to 2 households (anyone in your support bubble counts as 1 household). This includes inviting people from 1 household into your home or visiting the home of someone else with members of your own household. You should continue to maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble when doing so.
If you are in a support bubble you can continue to see each other without needing to maintain social distancing.
How many people am I allowed to meet with outdoors?
You can meet in groups of up to 6 people who you do not live with or who are not in your support bubble.
You can also meet people in groups of more than 6 people if everyone is exclusively from 2 households (anyone in the same support bubble counts as 1 household).
Can I visit a clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable person?
Although such individuals can meet people both outdoors and indoors, you and they should be especially careful and be diligent about social distancing and hand hygiene. Never take a chance on visiting a clinically vulnerable person if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms, however mild.
You can also visit a clinically vulnerable person inside if you are providing care or assistance to them. You should not do so if you have coronavirus symptoms, however mild.
Can I stay overnight in someone else’s home?
Yes, you can stay overnight in someone else’s home. However, you should ensure you maintain social distancing with anyone you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble. Take particular care to maintain excellent hygiene – washing hands and surfaces – and avoid using shared facilities like bathrooms wherever possible.
You should also only stay overnight in groups of up to 2 households. This means if you are staying overnight in someone’s home, you should only do so with members of your own household, in addition to the household of your host.
Can I go on holiday? Can I stay in my second home?
Yes, you can stay overnight away from the place where you are living. This includes staying overnight in a second home, hotels, bed and breakfasts or campsites.
A full list of what you can and cannot do can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do.
I will consider it safe for children to return to school
when all mp,s consider it safe for them all to sit together in the houses of parliament
lead by example
also applies to the house of lords
Well said.
School is the main risk to not only our children but to us, and all we then contact as children cannot be expected to follow, even with supervision the same degree of care as adults can.
The simple choice is risking a slightly less academic child, against the low, but real risk of death, or a serious life changing affliction for them, and the risk of bringing such into the household to then affect others.
Whilst education is of the upmost importance, with talk of a vaccine possible soon, then, to me, having a slightly lower grade, in the grand scheme of life, is less important than risking that empty void, and the crushing guilt you would feel, as your child trusts YOU to make the right decision for them, NOT some uncaring Government miles away, should your child be ‘one’ of the unlucky, nameless victims.
Too often parents think for them both get back to work a.s.a.p is giving the best for their children, when, one wonders if it is more about what ‘they’ really want and use the ‘providing a better life for my child’ reason as an excuse. For PROTECTING that child’s life should be the No.1 priority in my view.
With a vaccine possible this winter, surely a few months extra is worth the wait?
And as from tomorrow anyone returning from Spain has to self isolate, so much for us being told we can holiday abroad.
Item 6 in the ‘Still Cannot’ category implies that gatherings up to 30 people in a private house is acceptable, this appears to be a complete contradiction of item 1 in that category ???
It wont matter what they say you can and can’t do, a lot of people will just follow this Governments examples and totally ignore it.