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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dan Bloom & Zoe Forsey

New lockdown rules questions answered - can you meet your parents and when pubs will open

One of people's biggest annoyances with the UK's approach to lockdown is the lack of clarity, with many still unsure as to what they can and can't do.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's second major announcement, which aired last night, gave updated guidance as the government shared the plan for getting the UK moving again.

Some of the rules have been relaxed and there is a vague new motto replacing the 'Stay Home' message - Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives.

However the changes have left many Brits even more confused by the new information, which addresses going back to work, schools and socialising.

A new 60-word document gave us a clearer breakdown of the new rules, but lots of you still have a lot of questions.

Lockdown is changing - but how exactly? (Guy Bell/Shutterstock)

While we don't know the answers to all of the questions yet, we've done our best and have brought together all the information we have so far.

When can family members come over to my house?

I'm afraid we don't know, a date hasn't been given yet.

The rule that you can't go to another person's house still applies, so you can't pop over to your mum's house for a cuppa - even if you socially distance when you're there.

However, you can see them. You can meet one other person from another household in a public place - but you must socially distance.

So you, alone, can meet one friend or family member and sit in the park or on the beach, however you can't be in a group of more than two.

It's been a long time since we've been allowed to hug our loved ones (Getty Images)

The government is looking at a new "bubble" system, which could come into force later this year.

Under the idea based on New Zealand, one household would be able to join up with another household to form one "unit".

But you'd have to choose just one household to pair with - and not see anyone else.

This change is not confirmed and there is no date when it might happen.

When can I see my partner who lives in a different household?

As above, you can't go to your boyfriend or girlfriend's house but you can meet them in a public place.

However the 2m rule still applies - which means you can't give them a cuddle or a kiss.

This obviously isn't the answer anybody wanted, and it's obviously extremely difficult for people living apart from their partner.

We don't have a date for when people will be able to go to each other's houses.

Dropping that 2m distance seems to be one of the later things in the government's plans.

How long does 80 per cent furlough last?

At the moment, it's guaranteed until the end of June.

We don't know exactly what will happen beyond that, however it looks like it's going to be phased out slowly.

There is a chance that the amount of support will be cut down from 80 per cent to 60 per cent.

Another thing that's been hinted at is that it might go sector by sector, with businesses that are allowed to reopen - like shops - losing it before pubs, who will remain closed for longer.

The rumour is that we'll have an announcement on the furlough scheme tomorrow (Tuesday).

If you can sit in the park 2m away from strangers, why can you not sit 2m away from both your parents?

It has to be just one of you, and one other person. No more than two, regardless of households.

It seems the government have put this rule in place to make it clear what the rules are and to have a clear boundary.

Otherwise, we could end up with big groups from different households.

It perhaps doesn't follow logic for everyone, but they are the rules that have been put in place.

Is it the same rule for all of the UK?

No. It's different for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The main changes we are reporting are for England.

Why have Reception, Year1 & Year 6 been picked to go back to school first?

For Year 6, there is a clear logic there because they are waiting to go off to secondary schools. They want to see their friends one last time and to have some sort of transition.

For younger children, it seems to be based on the fact the virus is less harmful the younger you go.

The risk to four-year-olds is very low.

Also, younger children have very high childcare requirements, which has put a huge strain on parents working from home.

Older children on the other hand can be left for longer.

Will I be fined if I don't want to send my children back to school yet?

No. Downing Street has confirmed  that parents who don't feel comfortable sending their children back to school won't face a financial punishment.

A spokesman said: "Whilst we will not penalise for keeping children at home, once children are eligible to return to school we will strongly encourage them to do so."

When will weddings be allowed to go ahead?

Ministers are giving some "anxious consideration" to weddings.

It's likely that some more urgent ceremonies - for example, those taking place in hospitals - may be allowed to go ahead.

However, when it comes to typical weddings - with hundreds of guests, dancing and booze - the wait will be longer.

A huge party obviously involves a lot of people which makes social distancing very difficult.

There is no date on this yet.

When will pubs be open?

We're not going to get to sit in the pub with a pint for a long time.

It looks like they will be in the final wave of businesses to reopen as the lockdown eases in several phases.

That means we do not have a set date for when they will open their doors.

While some venues - such as cinemas, cafes and places of worship - may be able to open in July (provided they follow strict social distancing guidance), it's not thought that pubs will be allowed to open until later in the year.

We're still a long way off going back to the pub (Getty)

And Downing Street has made it clear any dates could still be pushed back.

This is because each phase will only go ahead if the scientific advice suggests coronavirus is not spiking up again in the UK.

Will I be fined if I don't send my children back to school in June?

We haven't been given a guarantee but it looks like authorities aren't wanting to go hard on nervous parents.

Not all school children are going back at the same time.

Secondary school pupils won't go back before September.

The government hasn't guaranteed that people won't be fined, but looking realistically at this I think they're trying to coax people back into school

I think it would be a very unwise authority to fine parents for not sending children back in the first few weeks.

Any news on when gyms and swimming pools could reopen?

There isn't a plan for these sorts of establishments yet.

As far as we know, they're not in the wave of places that could open in July at the earliest.

Gyms will be one of the last businesses to be allowed to reopen (Getty Images)

A gym is somewhere you have a lot of close contact with people, and a lot of shared machines, which could make it higher risk.

If I'm shielding do the same rules as before apply? Could it be extended?

Yes. The rules on 1.5million very vulnerable people who've been told by letter or phone call to stay at home completely for 12 weeks still apply despite the changes to the lockdown rules.

It may seem terribly unfair, but the rules are there because these people are at extreme risk from Covid-19.

We don't know if the shielding time could be extended.

Ministers have said it might have to be extended, but we don't know for sure yet.

Do the new lockdown rules apply to the over 70s?

When lockdown was introduced, over 70s were advised to stay at home as much as possible.

However the Government has recognised that not everyone in a particular category has the same needs - and so may be able to be exposed to more risk or need to take more precautions.

The advice now says that the over-70s should continue to take particular care to minimise contact with others outside their households - but lockdown will be eased for them just like most other people.

When can I go and visit my mum in her care home?

It doesn't look like this is going to be for a long time, which we understand is very upsetting news for many people.

Visits to regular homes still isn't allowed, and care homes have much higher risk due to the age and medical conditions of residents.

As we know, the death rates in care homes has been tragically high, and staff are doing everything they can to protect people.

At the moment we don't know when care home visits will be allowed, and it's likely that when the rules are changed it will be at the discretion of the care homes.

When will dentists reopen?

We don't have an update on this at the moment, but hopefully there will be some guidance soon.

Lots of people are desperately in need of dental treatment.

Many people are in need of urgent dental treatment (Getty Images/Cultura RF)

But so far, we've not had anything.

Do you think the government will provide face masks?

People now have to wear a face-covering on public transport and in other places were social distancing is not always possible - including shops.

A face covering is not a surgical mask or respirator which must be reserved for healthcare workers. 

It can be homemade or a scarf or other piece of material to cover the mouth and do not protect the wearer as much as the people around them

However, it's very unlikely that the government will send them out.

It's likely that we will be asked to wear a face covering, rather than a medical mask.

There is a huge shortage of PPE at the moment, and sending masks out to people will simply take them away from NHS workers who need them more.

There are thee types of mask:

  • A full surgical covering, which are used in hospitals. They are expensive
  • The paper medical masks, which offer some coverage
  • A face covering, which you can make at home using an old t-shirt or a scarf.

How far can we travel?

There is not a restriction on how far we can travel, but you have to travel to take exercise somewhere.

If you're driving to the beach or to go for a walk, that's fine.

If you're driving miles to your aunt's house, that isn't allowed.

Can kids take public transport to school?

The guidance is to take a car or cycle if you can, however this isn't possible for many families.

Parents will be urged to drive their children to school (Getty Images)

Therefore you can take public transport if you have no other option.

However, this isn't going to be easy as social distancing means far few people will be allowed on each bus or train.

It's an ongoing discussion and we'll be hearing a lot more about the logistics in the next few weeks.

When can Years 2, 3, 4 & 5 go back to school?

If all goes well, they should be able to go back at the end of June or July.

The idea is that Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils will go back earlier and the others will follow a few weeks later - before the summer holidays.

The aim is that all primary school children have at least a few weeks in the classroom before summer.

For secondary schools, it will be September.

When will courts start jury trials?

Jury trials in England and Wales will resume from next week.

Social distancing rules will be enforced when the 'limited number' of trials resume.

All new jury trials were suspended on March 23 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and work has been under way since then to investigate options for conducting trials in a safe manner.

A statement from the Lord Chancellor issued this morning said: "I am pleased that the courts are now in a position, with approval from Public Health England and Public Health Wales, to take some first steps towards the resumption of jury trials.

"A limited number of trials will take place, conducted safely and observing social distancing rules, at courts including the Old Bailey in London and at Cardiff Crown Court.

"These will also help us to understand how it might be possible to conduct trials more widely as the situation with coronavirus develops."

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