Hopes of ‘freedom day’ for England from coronavirus restrictions have been dashed after Boris Johnson announced there would be a four-week delay to the final stage of unlocking.
Millions had pinned their hopes on June 21 as a Government roadmap released in February anticipated all social contact rules being scrapped – but this has now been postponed to allow more time to tackle rising infection rates, driven by the spread of the Delta Covid variant, first identified in India.
Although the limits on guests for events such as weddings will be lifted from June 21, where does this leave other celebrations, such as parties and barbecues?
Can I have a party?
The rules on how many people you can safely meet indoors will remain the same for the next four weeks, meaning we are still subject to the restrictions which have been in place since May 17.
Currently in England you can meet indoors in a group of up to six from any number of households (including children), or in a group of any size from up to two households (each household can also include a support bubble in this). This rule applies to indoor hospitality such as pubs and restaurants as well as in private homes.
Outdoors, the rules are slightly different – allowing you to meet up to 30 people outside.
There is no restriction on the reasons for meeting people either indoors or outdoors – so if you want to have a party or a celebration of some sort, then it’s fine to do so as long as you stick to the rules on guest numbers, and take other appropriate safety measures, such as social distancing and wearing a face covering where needed.
Although you should still keep a distance of 1.5m from strangers, since May 17 people have been told to ‘use their personal judgment’ when it comes to who they think it is safe to have close contact – such as hugging – with.
The public have been asked to decide their ‘own levels of risk for their own circumstances’ – taking into account factors such as whether they or others have had both doses of the vaccine.
You should also consider keeping windows open if you are having a small gathering at home, to allow air to circulate – as this lowers the risk of transmission.
If you have any symptoms of coronavirus, you should of course refrain from meeting others, and get tested – and you should still be self-isolating if you have close contact with anybody who later tests positive.
It’s also worth noting if you have a party of any sort, that dancing is currently banned at indoor gatherings such as weddings ‘due to the increased risk of transmission’.
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