The Government has made it illegal to “mingle” under the new law enabling the enforcement of the “rule of six” in England.
Changes to regulations in England were published late on Sunday night, around 30 minutes before they came into force.
People face fines of £100, doubling to a maximum of £3,200 for repeat offences, for breaching the law, which bans social gatherings of more than six people both indoors and outdoors.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 state more than six people can gather from the same household or two “linked households” – made up of a household of one adult and any number of children and a second with no limit on the numbers of adults or children.
Rules allow for more than six people in total in indoor settings “operated by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body”, or at outdoor events organised by “a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution, a public body, or a political body”.
But those attending must be part of a “qualifying group” of up to six people, a single household or linked households.
And no person is allowed to become a member of another group or “otherwise mingle” with anyone outside their own group, according to the legislation.
Human rights barrister Adam Wagner tweeted: “It’s illegal to mingle! What does mingle mean?
“Is saying hello to someone at a gathering ‘mingling’? What about holding the door open for them?”
Other exceptions listed in the legislation include attending a “support group”, “significant event gathering” or “sports gathering”.
Protests are also allowed as long as a risk assessment is carried out and guidance followed.
But the legislation could prove difficult to enforce, with a list of exceptions allowing for larger gatherings at places including education and work settings.
Venues like places of worship, gyms, restaurants and hospitality settings can still hold more than six in total, while weddings and funerals can still go ahead with a limit of 30 people.
