New Government COVID guidelines: Seeing friends and family

In England, from Monday, 14 September, you must not meet people you do not live with socially in groups of more than six – this includes any setting, either indoors or outdoors.

When the new rules apply it will be law. If you are meeting in a group larger than six and those people are not part of your household or your support bubble, the police will have the powers to enforce these legal limits, including issuing fines (fixed penalty notices) of £100, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £3,200.

Exemptions include:

  • where everyone lives together or is in the same support bubble, or to continue existing arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents
  • for work, and voluntary or charitable services
  • for education, training, or registered childcare (including wraparound care)
  • fulfilling legal obligations such as attending court or jury service
  • providing emergency assistance, or providing support to a vulnerable person
  • for you or someone else to avoid illness, injury or harm
  • participation in children’s playgroups
  • wedding and civil partnership ceremonies and receptions, or for other religious life-cycle ceremonies – where up to 30 people will be able to attend
  • funerals – where up to 30 people will be able to attend
  • organised indoor and outdoor sports, physical activity and exercise classes (see the Government’s list of recreational team sports, outdoor sport and exercise allowed under the gyms and leisure centre guidance)
  • youth groups or activities
  • elite sporting competition or training
  • protests and political activities organised in compliance with COVID-19 secure guidance and subject to strict risk assessments

When socialising, please observe the following key behaviours, as per the Government’s latest guidelines:

  • HANDS – Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds.
  • FACE – Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
  • SPACE – Stay two metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or one metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors).

When seeing friends and family you do not live with you should:

  • follow social distancing rules
  • limit how many different people you see socially over a short period of time
  • meet people outdoors where practical. Meeting people outdoors is safer than meeting people indoors because fresh air provides better ventilation

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