MPs have expressed concern over the “rule of six” for social gatherings and pressed Health Secretary Matt Hancock over whether it will be lifted ahead of Christmas.
As Mr Hancock faced questions in the Commons on Tuesday, Conservative Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) told MPs: “Many of my constituents are struggling to understand why they can play five-a-side football, but two connected families of five each cannot meet.
“Can I ask the Secretary of State whether he will look at flexibility when local rates permit and also excluding under-12s?
"Christmas is just around the corner.
"I know he has to think about the health of the nation, but I really would urge some flexibility on the part of the government.”
In response, the Health Secretary said children do transmit the virus and the rule in place is “as simple as possible” considering the risks.
Mr Hancock said: “We do take an approach that’s different in different areas according to the extent of cases locally and that’s a very important part of one of the tools in our armoury.”
Conservative James Sunderland (Bracknell) asked him if there is a “formal trigger for easing the rule of six and measures like it”, to which Mr Hancock said there “isn’t a formal rate at which we’ll make that review” with everything constantly monitored.
Mr Hancock also said: “We will keep the rule of six in place only as long as it is absolutely necessary for health reasons, and the vaccines and treatments I spoke about, the mass testing regime, all of these are important to try to find a way through this virus with the minimal impact on the economy, education and people’s social lives.”
The rules, which are enforceable by law, came into effect across England yesterday and prohibit groups of more than six people meeting, in a bid to reduce the number of coronavirus cases.
Anyone found flouting them could face fines of £100, initially, increasing to up to £3,200 for repeat offences.
There are a number of exceptions to the rules - which are published here on the government's website.
