As the long-anticipated coronavirus roadmap to normal life is outlined by Prime Minister Boris Johnson this afternoon, what does the rule of six mean?
The “rule of six” is returning, along with new measures which allow two households to meet.
It gives flexibility back for friends and family to see each other after the last lockdown denied them of this.
The Prime Minister has said from March 8, people will be permitted to have socially distanced one-on-one meetups with others outdoors in a public space.
This means friends and family members could sit down for a coffee or have a picnic in the park, something not currently allowed under lockdown.
From March 29 more social contact is expected to be permitted, with outdoor gatherings allowed either under the rule of six or between two households.
This means groups of a maximum of six people from multiple households can get together outside. If the meetup is just between two households, a greater number is allowed.
The rule of six means that six single people from six individual households can also meet up or any combination of households as long as it contains six people outside of a house. Indoor meetings involving a number of households are banned until May 17 at the earliest.
From then, the rule of six will apply or two households and the previous outdoor limits will be scrapped, although groups of more than 30 will be outlawed.
In order for restrictions to be eased for any given stage, the four tests below must be met at each stage.
- The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new 'variants of concern'
Restrictions will only be lifted if all tests are met at each stage.
