16th June 2020
From Saturday 13 June 2020
The Government has introduced new rules that allow single people to socialise with one other household without social distancing.
What is a support bubble?
- A bubble is defined as a group of people with whom you have close physical contact
- In England, single adults living alone can form a support bubble with one other household
- The second household can be of any size
- Nobody who is shielding should join a bubble
What are the support bubble rules?
- Support bubbles must be “exclusive”. You can’t switch and start another with a different household.
- People in each bubble can visit each other’s homes and go inside.
- Bubble members won’t have to stay 2m (6ft) apart and can even stay overnight
I live in Assisted Living – what does this mean for me?
You may socialise with one other household inside your scheme (a friend) or a member of your family outside the scheme – you cannot do both.
- You can eat together and stay in each other’s home
- You can sit together when in communal areas so long as you both stay 2 metres apart from anyone else in the communal area -including friends who may form a separate support bubble
- You still need to wash your hands regularly and wipe down surfaces after use
- A single person can form a support bubble with friends who have 2 or more people in their household (for example a married couple)
- Two married couples are not allowed under the rules to form a support bubble together
- If you do decide to form a support bubble within your scheme please let the on-site staff know as it will help them when arranging social activities
- If anyone in your support bubble is contacted as part of the Test and Trace programme you must all stay at home and not even meet other people in your bubble
- If anyone in your support bubble develops symptoms of COVID-19 then everyone in that bubble must inform site staff and self-isolate
- Self-isolate means not leaving your property at all for any reason
I hope this is helpful in explaining the new rules that start on Saturday 13 June.
If you have any questions please ask the on-site staff and they will help in any way they can.
For those with internet access the full guidance can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household
